Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma among nominees for ICC Women’s Player of the Month

India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma along with Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu have been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2024. Smriti, the left-handed opener and vice-captain of India, intends to return. back-to-back success after winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award in June 2024 after making 273 runs at an average of 68.25 with a strike rate of 139.28 in T20Is in July. She continued her prolific career in July, starting with a career-best 149 in the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai. Along with fellow nominee Shafali, she added 292 runs for the first wicket, which was the highest ever first-wicket partnership in women’s Tests, laying the foundation for India to win the match by 10 wickets.

She followed that up with 100 runs in two innings in the T20I series against South Africa, including 54 not out in the final T20I, which helped India win the contest by 10 wickets and level the series. In the Women’s Asia Cup, Smriti amassed 173 runs and was India’s top scorer in the final, hitting 60 off 47 balls with 10 fours to her name.

On the other hand, Shafali was nominated after scoring 229 Test and 245 T20I runs in July 2024. During her prominent opening stand with Smriti in the single Test, Shafali became only the second Indian woman to hit a double century after the legendary Mithali Raj.

She managed to achieve the feat in 194 balls, which is now the fastest hundred ever in women’s Tests, and also made a quick 24 no in the second innings. Her 205 in the first innings was the highest score for India, who posted a record total of 603/6, the highest ever total in women’s Tests, paving the way for them to beat South Africa by ten wickets.

After amassing 45 runs in the T20I series against South Africa, Shafali became the second highest run-scorer in the Women’s Asia Cup, with her 200 runs coming at an impressive strike rate of 140.84, which included a quickfire of 40 from 29 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan, and a career-best 81 from 48 balls, with 12 fours and sixes against Nepal.

Meanwhile, Chamari enjoyed a defining moment in her career as she captained Sri Lanka to a memorable Women’s Asian Cup triumph at home. The left-handed batsman hit 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a strike rate of 146.85.

His standout performances included an unbeaten 119 against Malaysia and two crucial half-centuries in the knockout stage – in Sri Lanka’s tense semi-final victory over Pakistan, and the second in the final to chase down 166 against victory in a sales dispute. outside Dambulla stadium.

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