Dubai, Dec 30 (FN Agency) International Cricket Council on Thursday announced nominees for the Women’s T20 Player of the Year, with India’s Smriti Mandhana among the shortlisted players for the top honours. Madhana scored 255 runs in nine matches at an average of 31.87, with two half-centuries to her credit in 2021. She was India’s top run-scorer in the T20I series against England with 119 runs. Also, she was top-scorer in both the matches that India lost, including a 51-ball 70. England’s Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver, and Gaby Lewis of Ireland were the other three players who have been nominated alongside Mandhana.
Beaumont has 303 runs in nine matches at an average of 33.66 with three half-centuries to her name in the calendar year. Also, the 30-year-old English opener was her team’s highest run-getter in the year, and third-highest overall in the world. While, Nat Sciver played a prominent role in all three of England’s series wins this year, finishing as their third-highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in 2021. Ireland’s Lewis scored 325 runs at 40.62 in 10 T20Is at a strike rate of 128.45, with one century and a half-century. The 20-year-old Irish finished the year as the second-highest run-scorer in T20Is. She bagged the Player of the Match award twice in Ireland’s 3-1 series win over Scotland.