Proteas duo nominated for ICC Women’s Player of the Month

Proteas cricket stars Nadine de Klerk and Laura Wolvaardt have been announced as contenders by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for Women’s Player of the Month for September. The South Africans join Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapathu in the three-person shortlist.

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No Proteas players in the Men’s category were nominated, despite some excellent performances against Australia. Instead, South Africa’s two representatives are from the national Women’s cricket team. 

Proteas lost T20I series against Pakistan but won both WODI series against the Green Shirts and New Zealand’s White Ferns

Pakistan whitewashed South Africa 3-0 in Karachi; however, the Proteas bounced back to win the Women’s One Day International (WODI) series 2-1. The Proteas also registered a 2-1 50-over home series victory over New Zealand after some match-winning performances from Wolvaardt and De Klerk. 

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ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for September

Nadine de Klerk (SA)

De Klerk, nominated for the first time for the Player of the Month award, had stellar all-round performances against Pakistan and New Zealand, which saw South Africa win both the WODI series against the Green Shirts and White Ferns. 

The 23-year-old all-rounder, named Player of the Series against Pakistan, impressed with the ball, taking 13 wickets in her five ODI’s at an average of 12.76. De Klerk scored 180 runs, averaging 90, in five innings across the two WODI series, including successive half-centuries against Pakistan in the third WODI and versus New Zealand in the first WODI. 

Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

Wolvaardt was named Player of the Series against Pakistan despite South Africa losing the WT20I series 3-0 in Karachi. The opening batter scored 157 runs, with one half-century, in three matches versus the Green Shirts. Wolvaardt, however, had a poor ODI series against Pakistan, scoring 30 runs in three innings; however, the 24-year-old rediscovered her form against New Zealand. 

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Wolvaardt scored 198 runs at an average of 99 in three games, hitting a stylish half-century before an unbeaten 124 saw the Proteas claim back-to-back WODI series wins. The Proteas skipper was named Player of the Series against the White Ferns for these outstanding batting performances. 

Chamari Athapaththu (SL)

Chamari Athapaththu starred for Sri Lanka in the Lions’ historic 2-1 WT20I series victory against England in September. Athapaththu registered back-to-back Player of the Match performances to clinch the Lions’ maiden series win against the English. The 32-year-old captain’s explosive batting and economical bowling helped restrict England to low totals in the second and third matches. A quick-fire 55 from 31 balls in the second match was followed by a match-winning 44 in 28 balls in the decisive encounter.

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