THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Dubai, September 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday that Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage (Men’s) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (Women’s) have been named the ICC Players of the Month for August 2024.
The double triumph for Sri Lanka comes after Wellalage’s remarkable performance in a home ODI series against India, and Samarawickrama’s outstanding form during the tour of Ireland.
The only other time players from the same nation claimed the awards in the same month was in June this year, when Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana were named Players of the Month.
Wellalage earned the award after a stellar Player of the Series performance, which helped his team secure a 2-0 series victory over India. The 21-year-old left-hander posted scores of 67* not out, 39, and two, along with taking seven wickets, including a remarkable five for 27 in the third match.
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This marks the fifth occasion that a Sri Lankan player has won this men’s award. The previous recipients were Angelo Mathews (May 2022), Prabath Jayasuriya (July 2022), Wanindu Hasaranga (June 2023), and Kamindu Mendis (March 2024).
Harshitha Samarawickrama had an impressive tour of Ireland where she became only the third Sri Lankan woman cricketer to score a century in ODIs.
The 26-year-old left-hander amassed 151 runs in the two T20Is played in Dublin at a strike rate of 169.66, highlighted by a match-winning 86 not out from 45 balls in the first game. Additionally, she scored 172 runs in three ODIs in Belfast at a strike rate of 82.69, including a century of 105 in the second match.
Samarawickrama is just the second Sri Lankan player to receive the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. Captain Chamari Athapaththu has won the award three times—September 2024, May 2024, and July 2024.
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