Douglas catches Safe Hands cup
Chris Douglas claimed the 2012 Cup Match Classic Safe Hands award after his acrobats as a stand-in wicketkeeper.Douglas jumped behind the stumps after injured skipper Jekon Edness was forced to leave the field.And it was in that position that he caught out St. George’s’ Glenn Blakeney, hepling to propel Somerset to an emphatic victory.The panel of judges also ackowledged Douglas for a fine catch on the first day.On hand for the announcement and award ceremony were organiser Rolfe Commissiong and Dr. Mahesh Reddy, representative for sponsors Bermuda Healthcare Services and Brown Darrell Clinic.Also in attendance was Calvin (Bummy) Symonds (the cup is awarded in his name) and Dennis Wainwright who is one of award’s longest serving judges.“Thank you very much for this award, it is an honour to have earned the safe hands award which I worked very hard to achieve,” said Douglas. “A lot of matches are won in the field and I believe that Somerset showed their superiority over St George’s this year in the fielding aspect of the game.”Commissiong believed Douglas was a worthy recipient of the award and deserved the praise for his commitment in the field.“It is my pleasure to announce that Chris Douglas of Somerset Cricket Club’s Cup Match team has been chosen by the judges, as the Cup Match Classic Safe Hands Award winner for 2012,” said Commissiong.“Douglas, who took an excellent catch on the first day of the match, followed that up with another fine effort on the second day of play which led to the dismissal of St. George’s Cricket Club dangerman Glenn Blakeney.“The difference was that he managed to accomplish that feat while playing wicketkeeper, having been drafted as a late replacement for his captain Jekon Edness, who had retired earlier with severe cramps while batting on the second day of the match.“Certainly, I think that you will agree that Douglas did not embarrass himself in that role either. It’s clear, that in addition to the two catches mentioned, that Douglas had a very good two days in the field overall.”This year marks the 15th year of the Safe Hands Award which began in 1998, with the first player chosen being Somerset’s Janeiro Tucker.Three players have won the award twice; Tucker, Dwayne Leverock and Chris Foggo, who was also the first wicketkeeper to win the award, although no player has won it back to back.To date a Somerset player has won the cup nine times while a St. George’s player has been chosen six times.In addition to the cup, the player receives a $1,000 cash prize, two round-trip tickets to one of the gateway cities and playing kit courtesy of the Calvin Symonds family.