Oliver Lees
Darley all-rounder Kim Bessell has capped off her exceptional year in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association women’s competition by taking home the league’s best and fairest player award.
She won the count with 14 votes, ahead of Sarah Bamford (Bacchus Marsh), Brooke Jeffery (Lancefield) and Taylah Logie (Kilmore) who all received 12 votes.
The 35-year-old said she was humbled and surprised by the best and fairest win and credited playing squash as a child for her superb hand-eye coordination.
“I was playing squash competitively from 12 to 19,” she said.
“My mum and dad owned a squash court, so I have been playing basically since I was two years old.”
It was a fitting conclusion to the season which saw Darley win the grand final over Bacchus Marsh in comfortable fashion.
After Bacchus Marsh posted 9-92 off 22 overs, Darley chased down the total for the loss of two wickets in 20 overs.
Bessel, who is also the team’s vice-captain, starred on the day hitting 72 not out as an opening batter. She also took two wickets from her four overs for nine runs.
Whether she was fielding, batting or bowling, Bessell made her presence felt throughout the year.
She led the competition in wickets taken (17), averaged 98.5 runs per game (394 total) and even led the competition in total catches (nine).
Her versatility earned her the title of captain of the league’s team of the year as well as a team of the year nod in the Victorian Country Cricket League.
Bessell has proven herself as an all-round asset in the Darley sporting community, as she also booted 122 goals in the women’s football team which also won a premiership.
She said if she had to choose, she’d take hitting a boundary over taking a wicket any day.
But more than anything her heart lies on the footy field, where alongside her Darley teammates she’ll be looking to go back-to-back in the Ballarat Football League.
