By JARROD POTTER
A FLYING Lion won her second Una Paisley Medal at last week’s Cricket Victoria Premier Cricket Awards night.
Dandenong’s Sarah Elliott was awarded Victorian Women’s Cricket Association’s (VWCA) Premier firsts most valuable player for the second time after previously winning in 2009/10.
The Una Paisley Medal was hung around Elliott’s neck following an impressive season to accrue 36 votes, seven-votes-clear of Box Hill’s Meg Lanning and nine-votes-clear of Anna Lanning in third.
Elliott bludgeoned 491 runs, at an average of 54, while taking 13 wickets to show off her all-round credentials, but despite the stellar numbers, she didn’t think the award was her’s for the taking this season.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised like that and I was pretty excited and it was pretty unexpected that’s for sure,” Elliott said.
“I think it’s something that you enjoy now but when you look back in years to come you’ll probably enjoy it more.
“Those accolades aren’t what you play for, I’ve had a great year and it’s been great fun and just really pleased to be back playing cricket and I’ve got a lot of people to thank for that.”
Elliott, 32, has been in stellar form throughout her international, domestic and club cricket in the last 12 months.
Her performances for Victoria deserved in the judges’ eyes, the Sharon Tredrea Award – Elliott’s fourth time receiving the nod as Victoria Spirit’s best player in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL).
Elliott posted three consecutive half-centuries and finished the season with 243 runs, at an average of 40.50 in her Victorian representative duties.
To cap it all off, an Ashes century (104) last August to help Australia make 331 against England in the only 2013 Women’s Ashes Test at Sir Paul Getty’s Ground, Wormsley.
Elliott said her recent move back to Victoria has reinvigorated her cricket and her support crew including husband Rob and son Sam, share in every success she has attained.
“It’s great, just to be able to play week-in week-out with Dandenong, haven’t been able to do that for quite some time,” Elliott said.
“It’s nice for consistency and it definitely helps with performance.”
“Definitely want to thank my husband Rob and my mum and dad – they’re the ones in particular that help me playing and the success I’ve had is equally their success and without them there’s no chance I’d be back playing with my little son Sam around.”
She also wanted to thank the Dandenong Women’s Cricket Club for its immeasurable assistance and support throughout her career.
Elliott said the club is now reaping the spoils with a good mix of experienced and up-and-coming players to guide them into the future.
Elliott, Kelly Applebee and Erica Kershaw were the three Lions named in the VWCA Premier women’s team of the season.
