YOUNG CRICKETER OF THE YEAR 2009 SIMON WATKINS

Bournemouth all-rounder Simon Watkins (pictured) has been named Southern Electric Premier League 'Young Cricketer of the Year'.

He received the prestigious John Millett Memorial Award at the Premier League's Presentation Dinner after a fine individual season in which he scored 588 runs, including five scores of 50 or more, and captured 22 wickets.Watkins, who played regular Minor Counties Championship cricket for Dorset this season, also played a lead role in Bournenouth's ECB Cockpsur Twenty20 Cup triumph at Derby in September.

He is the fifth Bournenouth cricketer to win the YC award, but the first since Matt Swarbrick in 1996. Nigel Ackland (1983), Richard Scott (1984) and Derek Pepperell (1989) were the previous winners.