Otago Volts all-rounder Ian Butler tops the Mitre10 MVP rankings after seven rounds of competition, helping his team to a tenuous lead on the HRV Cup points table.
Butler grabbed a competition record – and a win for his team – with 6/28 against the Auckland Aces in the sixth round of competition, a performance which catapulted him to the peak of the Mitre10 MVP table.
Butler was a bit surprised about the number one placing; however he thinks he’s got some stiff competition close behind. “When you are playing well it’s nice to be recognised,” he said. “But it will be a tough one to win, with the likes of Oram, Napier and Tuffey contributing with the bat and ball. Hopefully I can do that too.”
Butler’s performance is all the more impressive because he has amassed his points in fewer games than fellow Mitre10 MVP leaders, due to the Volts washed out Round seven match.
Butler leads a battery of players at the top of the Mitre10 MVP Twenty20 table who have generated the majority of their points with a string of match winning bowling performances. Southee, Napier, Vettori and Tuffey make up the top five on the leader board.
The Central Stags and Auckland Aces appear to have good breadth of performances heading into the final rounds of the HRV Cup, each with three players in the top ten Mitre10 MVP rankings.
Like the HRV Cup competition itself, the race to be at the top of Mitre10 MVP table at the end of the MVP challenge looks likely to go down the wire.
Devine has the divine touch
Wellington Blaze all-rounder Sophie Devine currently leads the Mitre10 MVP overall women’s table.
The Blaze are fighting out top honours with the Central Stags in the final rounds of the women’s Twenty20 competition this weekend but it’s Devine who is leading the way in the individual performances.
“I’m thrilled to be recognised. It’s a nice feeling,” Devine said. “The MVP is a great initiative and a real boost to women’s cricket.”
The Blaze, currently four points behind the Hinds, are hoping for a big win when they face them at home on Sunday. “It’s going to be the biggest match of the season for us. They are our main rivals and we’ve had some close games with them previously,” she said. “We know we have to play well and we’ve worked hard over the last two weeks so hopefully we can win and get into the final.”
