mmg.com.au

Luke Carter’s 205-run knock for Strathmerton in the final home-and-away round has won him Murray Valley Cricket Association’s Guthrie Medal.

Carter went into the final round of voting on Wednesday night trailing Nathalia’s two-time winner Ash Quinn, who won the medal the past two seasons.

Quinn did not gain votes in round 16 while Carter was awarded three for his performance against Cobram-Yarroweyah United.

This was Carter’s fourth Guthrie Medal having won for his performances in the 2009-10 season and back-to-back in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Strathmerton’s skipper belted 808 runs in 13 premier division innings this season for an average of 89.8 runs, which earned him the batting averages award ahead of Quinn with 642 runs and a 64.2 average.

Carter’s final round score was his highest for the season.

He also made 155 runs in round seven against Katunga and made half-centuries on four other occasions.

Carter bowled 93 overs, including 20 maidens, to finish with 18 wickets and an average of 16.6.

These statistics also garnered him the league’s Most Valuable Player award for the second time with 165.8 points, having also won in 2007-08 and finished runner-up in 2006-07.

Quinn was runner-up with 147.2 and Cobram’s Shaun Downie was third with 118.4.

Carter said he felt he had had a ‘‘pretty good year’’, but felt he was ‘‘probably lucky’’ to go home with the medal the way the count had progressed.

‘‘I was probably lucky to win it in the end because Ash was winning the whole count and he was winning by two going into the last round and he didn’t get a vote and I got a three,’’ he said.

The individual honour capped off a massive week for Strathmerton, which also yesterday won through to the MVCA premier grand final next week against Barooga.

Strathmerton also won the premiership when Carter won the medal in 2006-07.

‘‘It would be nice if we could do that again this year,’’ Carter said.

In the other awards for the night, Downie picked up the Gemmill Medal and McGrath Medal for his performances at Melbourne and Bendigo Country Week, respectively.

Barooga’s Matt Jaensch won the bowling averages with 34 wickets and an average of 7.88, ahead of Nathalia’s Liam Evans with 20 wickets and 10.75 average.

Cobram’s Justin Peace won the division one Gemmill Medal, Waaia’s James Wilson won the division two A & C Owen Trophy, Nathalia won the Club Championship and Cobram-Yarroweyah United’s Kieren Andrew won the Rising Star Award.

Cricket Shepparton’s Lightfoot Medal vote count will be held at Kialla Sports Club tonight.