India opener Shafali Verma won the ICC “Player of the Month” award for November for her match-winning batting performance against South Africa in the Women’s World Cup final last month.
The hosts amassed a massive 298 for 7 and then secured a 52-run victory to lift their first World Cup trophy in Navi Mumbai. Shafali, who replaced the injured Pratika Rawal in the semifinal match against Australia, smashed a 78-ball 87, the highest by an Indian opener in a Women’s World Cup final.
Shafali and fellow opener Smriti Mandhana shared a 104-run partnership to lay the platform for the significant score.
The 21-year-old won her first-ever “Player of the Month” award ahead of Thipatcha Putthawong of Thailand and Esha Oza of the United Arab Emirates.
“My first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup experience didn’t go as I expected but it ended far better than I could have ever wished or imagined,” said Shafali in an ICC release.
“I’m grateful that I could contribute to the team’s success in the final and that I was able to be a part of making history in winning the World Cup for the first time and in front of a home crowd.
“I’m truly honoured to be named the Women’s Player of the Month for November. I dedicate this award to my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported my journey until now. We win and lose as a team, the same goes for this award,” added Shafali.
South Africa spinner Simon Harmer earned the men’s award for his outstanding bowling during the Proteas’ 2-0 victory over India in the Test series.
Harmer won the POTM title for the first time ahead of Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz and Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam.
As South Africa achieved their first Test rubber victory in India in 25 years, the 36-year-old returned with a total of 17 wickets from the series.
He finished the series with his 17-wicket total at an average of 8.94 and an economy of 1.91 after returning with figures of 4/30 and 4/21 in the series opener in Kolkata, followed by 3/64 and 6/37 in the second match in Guwahati.
“Playing for my country is a dream come true and anything else that comes from it as a result is a bonus. I share this award with my teammates, coaches and support staff and dedicate it to my family who allow me to go out and live my dream, often having to leave them at home to do so,” said Harmer.
