Sri Lanka National Cricket Team all-rounder Dunith Wellalage has been awarded the ICC Player of the Month for August. The young cricketer pipped South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj and West Indies’ Jayden Seales to secure the award.
Wellalage achieved the accolade for his all-round show in the ODI series against the India National Cricket Team. His effort with both bat and ball was one of the major reasons behind the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team winning the ODI series against the Rohit Sharma-led side for the first time since 1997.
Wellalage troubled the Indian batters with his sensational bowling skills, spinning a web around them. Not only this, but he also played vital knocks for his team with the bat down the order, helping them set the winning total in the three-match ODI series between the teams.
He delivered a magnificent innings of career-best 67* and claimed the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the first ODI, helping Sri Lanka to draw the game.
Dunith Wellalage reflected on his ICC Player of the Month award stating that winning the trophy gives him the strength to keep up his good work. He mentioned that being recognized by the ICC would also encourage other young players. He stated:
“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 in the field. I wish to thank my teammates, parents, friends, and relatives, as I am sure my achievement will provide them great satisfaction, as they have been supporting me throughout.”
In terms of the ICC Women’s Player of the Month, Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Madavi surpassed the Irish duo of Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis to win the award. She achieved the award following her performances with the bat in the ODI and T20I series against Ireland.
Madavi registered scores of 86* and 65 in the two T20I matches, finishing as the leading run-getter of the series. In the ODIs, she scored 19, 105, and 48*, again finishing as the leading run-scorer. She also became the third Sri Lankan player to score a century in ODI cricket.
