Somerset's Craig Overton and Sophie Luff Steal the Show at PCA Awards

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Somerset's Craig Overton and Sophie Luff won Player of the Year at the PCA Awards, while Sonny Baker and Tilly Corteen-Coleman took young player honors.

### A Phenomenal Night for Somerset Somerset's Craig Overton and Sophie Luff stole the spotlight at the PCA Awards in West London, each taking home the coveted Player of the Year award. It's a huge moment for the county, and honestly, it couldn't have happened to two more deserving players. ### Craig Overton: A Season to Remember Overton's numbers this year were nothing short of ridiculous. He racked up 734 runs in the County Championship—including three centuries—and snagged 53 wickets. That's the kind of all-round performance that makes selectors sit up and take notice. But wait, there's more. He also powered Somerset to Blast Finals Day with a jaw-dropping unbeaten 79 off just 30 balls in the quarter-final against Yorkshire at Headingley. Then he helped Trent Rockets reach the Hundred final. "It's a phenomenal feeling," he said. And you can bet it is. ### Sophie Luff: Leading from the Front Luff, Somerset's captain, made a bold move to open the batting this year—and it paid off big time. She finished as the club's top run-scorer in both the T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. She also played every game for Trent Rockets as they clinched their first-ever women's Hundred title. What's really impressive? Luff is the first uncapped player to win this award since Eve Jones in 2021. She credits her new role at the top of the order for unlocking something special. Sometimes a change is all you need. ### Young Guns Shine Bright Sonny Baker and Tilly Corteen-Coleman took home the Young Player awards, and their stories are just beginning. Baker, another Somerset academy product, made his Test debut for England at The Oval and played in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka. In the Blast, he took 21 wickets for Hampshire, with five-wicket hauls in both the quarter-final and the final. He then won the Hundred with Manchester Super Giants. "I've dreamed of a Test debut since I was 11," he said. Dreams do come true. Corteen-Coleman, a 19-year-old left-arm spinner from Surrey, made her England debuts in ODI and T20I cricket this summer. She was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Hundred and has her sights set on playing a Test at Headingley in next summer's Ashes. She's also hoping to join the red-ball camp ahead of 2027. Talk about ambition. ### Special Recognition Heather Knight, who retired from international cricket this summer, received the PCA Outstanding Contribution award. She previously served as the association's vice-chair. Her former England teammate Tammy Beaumont was honored with the ECB Special Merit award. ### Full List of Winners - Men's Player of the Year: Craig Overton (shortlisted: Joe Clarke, George Hill, Dan Lawrence) - Women's Player of the Year: Sophie Luff (shortlisted: Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Mady Villiers) - Men's Young Player of the Year: Sonny Baker (shortlisted: Charlie Allison, Naavya Sharma) - Women's Young Player of the Year: Tilly Corteen-Coleman (shortlisted: Jodi Grewcock, Charley Phillips) - Outstanding Contribution: Heather Knight - ECB Special Merit: Tammy Beaumont - Umpire of the Year: Ian Blackwell (men's) and Gabi Brown (women's) Toyota sponsored the awards, and PCA chief executive Daryl Mitchell called it "the most prestigious awards ceremony in cricket." It's a night that lets the game finish the year by recognizing its players—and what a year it's been.

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