Double Delight for Sri Lanka as Harshitha Madavi and Dunith Wellalage Named ICC Players of the Month for August 2024
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| Harshitha Madavi and Dunith Wellalage Win ICC Players of the Month for August 2024 / ICC |
Sri Lanka cricket celebrates a historic moment as two of its rising stars, Harshitha Madavi and Dunith Wellalage, were named ICC Players of the Month for August 2024. Both players have been instrumental in their respective team’s recent successes, marking a double triumph for the island nation.
Harshitha Madavi: ICC Women's Player of the Month for August 2024
Sri Lanka’s top-order batter, Harshitha Madavi, clinched the prestigious ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for August 2024, overcoming competition from Ireland’s Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis. The talented left-hander showcased her brilliance during Sri Lanka's tour of Ireland, where she dominated with consistent performances in both T20Is and ODIs.
Madavi’s standout moment came in the two-match T20I series, where she registered scores of 86* and 65, emerging as the highest run-scorer for both sides. Her form continued in the ODI series, scoring 19, 105, and 48*, with her century in the second ODI marking her as the third Sri Lankan woman to achieve an ODI ton, joining the ranks of Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne.
Reflecting on her achievement, Madavi expressed her gratitude and excitement.
“This recognition is a new high in my career and gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the big competitions like the Women’s T20 World Cup,” she said.
Madavi’s award makes it a third win for Sri Lankan women in 2024, with Chamari Athapaththu previously winning in both May and July, highlighting the rising dominance of Sri Lankan women’s cricket on the global stage.
Dunith Wellalage: ICC Men's Player of the Month for August 2024
On the men’s side, 21-year-old all-rounder Dunith Wellalage was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2024. Wellalage, a former Sri Lanka U19 captain, played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series win against India, marking their first bilateral ODI series triumph over India since 1997.
Wellalage’s all-round brilliance throughout the series was pivotal, as he scored 108 runs and took seven wickets across the three matches. His career-best 67* and his match-winning 5/27 in the third ODI, where he dismantled India’s top order by dismissing Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, sealed his place as Sri Lanka’s standout performer.
Wellalage, reflecting on his win, said,
"This recognition gives me further strength to continue doing good work for my team. It's great encouragement for young players like me to strive for excellence."
Wellalage’s victory marks the second ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for Sri Lanka in 2024, following Kamindu Mendis’ win in March.
A Historic Month for Sri Lanka Cricket
The simultaneous recognition of Harshitha Madavi and Dunith Wellalage as ICC Players of the Month for August 2024 marks a significant milestone for Sri Lankan cricket. Both players have exemplified skill, determination, and leadership, helping propel their teams to success on the international stage. Their wins underscore Sri Lanka’s growing presence in both men’s and women’s cricket, setting a high standard for the future.
This double delight further solidifies Sri Lanka's reputation as a rising force in world cricket, with young talents like Madavi and Wellalage leading the charge.
