Batsman Ashwell Prince, who averaged more than 50 in four-day and one-day provincial cricket during the past summer, was named Western Province player of the season at the WP Cricket Association awards function on Monday night.

Left-hander Prince, also a brilliant fielder, averaged 53.9 (539 runs) in the Supersport series won by WP, and 68 (272 runs) in the day-night competition.

Other contenders in a closely fought race would have been captain HD Ackerman, vice-captain Alan Dawson and all-rounder Neil Johnson.

Most promising provincial player was another left-hander, Graeme Smith, in his debut season. Smith finished with a Supersport average of 42.25 after accumulating 676 runs in the four-day competition, with a highest of 183 in the final against Border.

© CricInfo