DUBAI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday revealed the nominees for the Women’s ODI Player of the Year award.
Three brilliant openers and one up-and-coming all-rounder make the shortlist of this award. The ICC Awards 2021 will recognise the outstanding achievements and feats in cricket over the past year.
South Africa’s Lizelle Lee, Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, England’s Tammy Beaumont and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews have been nominated by ICC.
Lizelle Lee made 632 runs in 11 matches at an average of 90.28 with one century and five half-centuries while English batsman Tammy Beaumont made 503 runs in 11 matches at an average of 62.87 with one century and four half-centuries.
West Indies’ Hayley Matthews made 380 runs in 14 matches at an average of 29.23 with one century and one half-century. She took 18 wickets at an average of 22.44 and an economy rate of 3.33.
Pakistani bowler Fatima Sana took 20 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 24.90 with one five-wicket haul. She made 132 runs at an average of 14.66.
Fatima Sana’s Tremendous Performance in 2021
Having made her debut in May 2019, Fatima Sana had played only two ODIs before the start of the year, but the 20-year-old showed tremendous maturity throughout the year and was one of the few bright spots for Pakistan.
She showed glimpses of her brilliance on the tour of South Africa, where she picked up two wickets in three games and also made handy contributions with the bat. In the second ODI, she picked up a wicket and scored an unbeaten 22 as Pakistan fell narrowly short by 13 runs.
In the five-match series against West Indies, Sana ended as the second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets, which included a maiden ODI five-for. She continued her fine form in the home series against West Indies and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, with four and three wickets respectively.
Memorable performance
Sana was sensational with the bat and ball, winning the Player of the Match for her all-round brilliance against West Indies in the final ODI away from home.
In a rain-curtailed match, Pakistan were 150/6 when Sana came out to bat. With five overs remaining, Pakistan needed some quick runs and Sana provided the team with some much-needed impetus, smashing a boundary each in the last four overs. She remained unbeaten on 28 off just 19 balls, taking Pakistan to 190/8 in 34 overs.
Chasing 191, West Indies managed to recover after losing Hayley Matthews, with Deandra Dottin and Britney Cooper taking control of the chase. Sana broke the partnership in her very first over by removing Dottin and then removed the other set batter, Cooper, six overs later, ICC said in a statement.
She hit the final nail in West Indies’ coffin in the penultimate over, picking up the wickets of Chinelle Henry, Rashada Williams and Anisa Mohammed to register her maiden five-for in ODI cricket.
