The ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award nominations for August 2024 have been revealed by the ICC. Sri Lanka‘s next superstar, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Irish allrounders Gaby Lewis & Orla Prendergast are shortlisted women’s players for this prestigious award.
Orla Prendergast’s Nomination
Even though Prendergast could not surpass Sri Lanka’s Samarawickrama’s run total, she still showed her all-around abilities in August with strong performances in every area of her game. In his two games during the T20I series against Sri Lanka, Prendergast amassed 67 runs and two wickets, but the 22-year-old’s greatest performance came in the first game of the ODI series.
After helping to restrict Sri Lanka to 260/8 in Belfast, the 22-year-old produced a brilliant spell of 3/25 with the new ball and claimed two catches. She doesn’t shine with just the ball, but her bat produced a knock of the ages. While chasing a total of 261, she scored 122* from just 107 deliveries. It came as no surprise that Prendergast won Player of the Match for her efforts, and she continued to contribute significantly with the ball in the remaining games of the series to help Ireland win 2-1.
Harshitha Samarawickrama’s Nomination
August saw Samarawickrama continue her ascent to prominence with some incredible runs at the bat after her Asia Cup final heroics against India. The left-hander dominated the ODI and T20I series against Ireland. After finishing the two-match series as the top run scorer for both teams, Samarawickrama enhanced her performance after landing in Dublin.
If that wasn’t enough, Samarawickrama went on to put up even greater numbers in the three-match ODI series against the Irish team, scoring 19, 105, and 48* to secure the top spot, as a batter in the ODI series as well.
Gaby Lewis’ Nomination
August 2024 was Gaby Lewis’ finest month in the shortest format, as she achieved the best individual score for Ireland in T20Is. At the Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin, Lewis showed off her explosive batting skills from the first over of the second T20 International of the series against Sri Lanka. She went on to strike a stunning 119 from just 75 deliveries.
During her inning, the 23-year-old struck 17 boundaries and two enormous sixes to help Ireland score 173/3. Sri Lanka was unable to overcome this, and the hosts held on to win the match and square the two-match series.
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