PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies left-hander Evin Lewis has been rewarded for a run of enterprising scores by being named Trinidad and Tobago’s Cricketer-of-the-Year.

The 24-year-old opener received the accolade last weekend at the T&T Cricket Board’s 60th Annual Awards ceremony, and was also recognized as one of the five Cricketers-of-the-Year.

Lewis, who is currently in Dubai with the West Indies preparing for the three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan, said he was thrilled with the award.

“I am extremely happy. I’m glad the hard work from last year has finally paid off and I am feeling very excited and happy about it,” he said.

“Hard work is always the key. This is a stepping stone – getting my first four-day hundred and my first 50-overs hundred also and a T20 hundred in one year – and I feel extremely good so I just have to keep working hard and hope for better things next year.”

An attacking batsman with a penchant for the off-side, Lewis starred for Trinidad Red Force across all competitions. He amassed 442 runs in just five games during the first class season at an average of 49, including a superb maiden hundred against Jamaica Scorpions in Kingston.

Lewis followed up with 221 runs at an average of 44 in the NAGICO Super50, to help Red Force to the title.

His form saw him elevated to international duty where he has so far played three Twenty20 Internationals and he revealed he also had his eyes set on Test cricket.

“I have Test cricket ambitions,” he said.

“Last year I performed good in the four-day and I just want to continue that good form and hopefully I can get called up one day for the Test team.”

Test star Darren Bravo, leg-spinning all-rounder Imran Khan, off-spinner Jon Russ Jaggesar and wicketkeeper Stephen Katwaroo were also among the five Cricketers-of-the-Year.

Bravo, meanwhile, was voted International Player-of-the-Year.

…Lewis hoping to make presence felt against Pakistan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Rising Twenty20 star Evin Lewis says he is anxious to build on the encouraging start to his career when he lines up against Pakistan in the upcoming three-match T20 series starting here Friday.

The left-hander has played just three T20Is since making his debut last April but made a huge impression when he blasted exactly 100 against India in Fort Lauderdale, United States of America last month.

Lewis said he was intent on continuing to be positive and playing to his strengths.

“I am pretty excited. It’s my first time in Dubai and I’m looking to grasp the opportunity and perform well,” the 24-year-old said.

He added: “I’m always positive, and that’s the most important thing. You have to know the areas where you can score. For me, it’s probably back of a length balls and half volleys that are my strengths so I just back myself every time they come to go over the top.”

Lewis’s brief international career has been a story of grasped opportunities. He made his debut in the T20 World Cup as a late replacement for the injured Lendl Simmons and then broke into the team for his second game in the recent two-match series against India when superstar Chris Gayle pulled out with injury.

He stepped up to blast five fours and nine sixes in a 49-ball innings and help propel West Indies to an exciting one-run victory in the opening game.

Lewis put on a stroke-filled 126 for the first wicket with Johnson Charles who made 79, a partnership which laid the foundation for the Windies’ victory.

“It was very shocking to me to know that he (Gayle) wasn’t playing but at the same time I said this could be my opportunity to put myself on the world stage. I went in there and was positive and it paid off for me so I was very happy about it,” Lewis said of the innings against India.

“It’s pretty decent with me and Jono (Charles). You know Jono is a very attacking batsman as is myself so it’s less pressure on me. When I see him scoring it’s then easier for me to score also so I am thankful for that.”

Lewis will be hoping to get his first taste of action today when West Indies take on an Emirates Cricket Board XI in a warm-up T20 at the ICC Cricket Academy here.

And with the opening T20 International scheduled for Friday, Lewis said it was important the Caribbean side make the most of the encounter.

“We just have to go out there and be positive,” the Trinidadian said.

“It’s a build-up for the game on [Friday] so we just have to go out there and play positive cricket, the cricket we have been playing all year long so we just have to go out there and do our thing.”