September 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s cricketing prowess shone brightly in August 2024, with Harshitha Madavi and Dunith Wellalage clinching the ICC Women’s and Men’s Player of the Month awards, respectively.
Madavi triumphed over strong competition from Ireland’s Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis to secure her title, marking a remarkable period of dominance for Sri Lankan women’s cricket.
Her stellar performances throughout August demonstrated her growth and consistency on the international stage.
This marks the third time a Sri Lankan woman has taken home the Player of the Month accolade in 2024, with Madavi following in the footsteps of Chamari Athapaththu, who won the award in both May and July.
Madavi’s victory made it a double celebration for Sri Lanka, as Wellalage also claimed the men’s title for August. This achievement underscores the exceptional talent emerging from the island nation, setting a new benchmark for cricket in the country.
Madavi’s brilliance was on full display during Sri Lanka’s tour of Ireland. The left-handed top-order batter dominated the opposition, excelling in both the ODI and T20I series. Fresh off an unbeaten 69 in the Women’s Asia Cup final against India, she carried her form into the T20I series in Dublin.
Her unbeaten 86 and a solid 65 in the two-match T20I series made her the leading run-scorer on both sides. In the subsequent three-match ODI series, Madavi continued her dominance, scoring 19, 105, and an unbeaten 48, thus becoming the highest run-getter in the series.
Notably, her century in the second ODI made her only the third Sri Lankan woman to score an ODI hundred, a feat previously achieved by Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne.
Expressing her joy upon receiving the award, Madavi stated, “I am extremely happy with this recognition, which I consider a new high in my career. This achievement gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup.”
She also took the opportunity to thank her support network, including teammates, coaches, and family members, acknowledging their role in her success.
On the men’s side, 21-year-old Dunith Wellalage showcased his all-round talent in the bilateral ODI series against India, helping Sri Lanka secure a historic series win.
With 108 runs and seven wickets, he was instrumental in overcoming a formidable Indian side, which included cricket heavyweights like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the first ODI, Wellalage’s unbeaten 67 and crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill led to a thrilling tie.
He continued to make significant contributions throughout the series, notably achieving a career-best 5/27 in the third ODI, which included the key dismissals of Kohli, Rohit, and Shreyas Iyer.
Wellalage expressed his delight at receiving the honour, saying, “This recognition gives me further strength to continue doing the good work I do as a player and contribute to my team to reach excellence on the field.”
He thanked his teammates, family, and friends for their unwavering support, emphasising how such recognition from the International Cricket Council motivates young players in the game.
This double win marks a milestone for Sri Lanka, highlighting the nation’s growing prominence in international cricket. Wellalage’s award follows in the footsteps of Kamindu Mendis, who was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March.
The exceptional performances by both male and female cricketers are testament to Sri Lanka’s burgeoning talent, and they promise a bright future for the nation’s cricket on the global stage.
