Cricket: Guptill, Williamson win top player awards

Black Cap Martin Guptill has won Auckland's cricketer of the year award. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Black Caps batsman Martin Guptil has been recognised as Auckland's cricketer of the year while teenager Kane Williamson has won Northern Districts' equivalent award.

Guptill's season has gone from the pain of a dislocated knee in October to the highs of becoming a Black Caps regular by season's end.

He marked his one-day international debut with a score of 122 not out against the West Indies and went on to claim an opening spot in the test line-up during the series against India.

Meanwhile, Williamson, only 18, played a major role in ND's successful State Shield campaign as they won their fifth title in 14 years.

Over the 2008/09 season, he scored three centuries on the way to compiling a total of 1084 runs in first class (707 at an average of 54), one-day (320 at 45) and Twenty20 matches.

He was also a handy bowler, helping choke down Otago in the final of the State Shield when he conceded just 23 runs from 10 overs.

- NZPA