Southern Smash 2022: Jaron Morgan named player of tournament, Kallen Bond wins player of the final honour

Star all-rounder Kallen Bond and destructive batter Jaron Morgan have claimed the two major individual awards at this year’s Southern Smash. Bond was named player of the final for his brilliant all-round display as the Inswing Ignition won a third straight Smash title. Morgan was part of the Arc Infrastructure Aces, helping his side reach their first final with a stellar batting display at the two-day regional T20 tournament. In Friday’s decider Bond smashed 84 runs from 64 balls to set up a winning score for the Ignition batting first. The Willetton gun belted seven boundaries, including three sixes, in his destructive innings and shared in a 93-run stand with Shayne Wornes to get his side to 3-147. As the Aces were starting to build a partnership in the middle overs of the run chase, Bond was introduced and had immediate effect. His spin firstly brought Ethan Smith undone and then he claimed the crucial scalp of Brock Larance, who had looked dangerous in his 22 from only 14 balls. Bond returned 2-16 from his wonderful four-over spell that ended any hope of an Aces fightback. It was the second straight year that Bond has been named player of the final and he was proudly sporting his championship ring after the Ignition’s 2022 triumph. Morgan was named player of the Smash after his outstanding tournament with the bat. The former Perth Scorcher and Joondalup wicketkeeper-batter surpassed 200 runs in his four innings at the Smash. He fell just shy of a century in the opening match for the Aces, out for 94, and then backed that up with a 65 not out in game two and then an unbeaten 46 in the third and final qualifying match. Morgan was out for a first ball duck in the final but made 205 runs at an average of 102 in the tournament. He also took five catches behind the stumps.