Watson wins T20 award

Allrounder Shane Watson pipped Matthew Wade in a two-step countback to win Cricket Australia’s Twenty20 Player of the Year Award on Monday night.

Watson polled five votes in his three T20 matches for Australia in the voting period while wicketkeeper/batsman Wade also polled five votes in his four games.

NSW star Watson hit 119 runs at an average of 39.67 and claimed two wickets and two catches while Victoria’s Wade made 115 at 38.33 and took one catch.

The pair could not be split on total votes or their number of three-votes and the decision came to performance points, with each run valued at one point and each wicket worth 20 points while a catch is worth 10 points.

David Warner, James Pattinson, John Hastings and Aaron Finch each polled three votes.