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Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

391 runs in four matches

The South Africa captain and opening batter makes it to the Player of the Month nominations list yet again.

She showcased her exceptional form with the bat in white-ball series against Sri Lanka. In April, Wolvaardt featured in one T20I and three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, making runs in each of those games.

The 100% Cricket Superstar made a 47-ball 56 in the final T20I against Sri Lanka, the highest score in the game by a South Africa batter. In the three-match ODI series that followed, she took her game to another level by accumulating 335 runs at an average of 335.

During the ODI series opener in East London, which ended in a no-result due to rain, the Proteas opener played a composed knock, scoring 41 in the first innings. Her contribution helped her side reach 270/6 before the match was washed out at the beginning of the second innings.

In the second game in Kimberley, she played a Player of the Match innings with her sensational unbeaten 110 from 141 balls while chasing. Her match-winning knock featured four boundaries.

She unleashed her best in the final ODI, by notching up another century. Despite ending on the losing side, Wolvaardt's unbeaten 184 off 147 balls set a new record for the highest individual ODI score by a South African woman. This feat surpassed former right-handed batter Johmari Logtenberg's record of 153* against the Netherlands in 2007, which stood for almost 17 years.

Wolvaardt’s stunning knock was studded with 23 fours and four sixes.

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Hayley Matthews (West Indies)

451 runs and 12 wickets in six matches

The West Indies captain and star all-rounder has been an unstoppable force for her side lately. In April, Matthews made three appearances in T20Is and as many in ODIs against Pakistan.

In that period, the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2023, made 325 runs at an impressive average of 162.5 to go with her six wickets in the ICC Women’s Championship ODI series. In the T20I leg, she scored 126 runs at an average of 42 and claimed six wickets.

She also won four Player of the Match awards, two each in the ODI and T20I series, while also taking home the Player of the Series in ODIs.

In the ODI series opener, she made a scintillating 140* from 150 balls, consisting of 15 fours and a six. She then led the charge with the ball, returning 3/17 from her six overs as West Indies sealed a big 113-run victory over Pakistan.

In the second ODI, she took one wicket and contributed with 44 runs as the Windies cruised to a thrilling two-wicket win on the last ball. Matthews made a stronger in the final ODI with a solid knock of 141 from 149. Her batting brilliance in this game included 19 fours. She also made an impact with the ball with returns of 2/26 from eight overs.

In the T20Is that followed, she was dismissed for a rare duck in the opening fixture, however, she bowled an economic spell of 1/14 in her four overs. She made a brisk 58 in the second game and was also the star bowler of her side with returns of 3/25. In the final game, she made another half-century, making a 49-ball 68 and returning 2/22 with the ball.

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Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)

*406 runs and two wickets in six games *

The ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2023 starred in Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa with match-winning performances including a blazing 195* in a record chase in the final ODI. In April, the Sri Lanka skipper and batting stalwart featured in three T20Is and as many ODIs.

She shone with the bat in the final T20I against South Africa in East London with a quick 46-ball 73, guiding her side to a series-winning triumph. This was Sri Lanka Women’s first-ever T20I series win over South Africa.

In the three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs that followed, Athapaththu made 12* in the opening game before it was washed out due to rain while in the second match, she contributed with 51.

However, it was during the final ODI of the series that Athapaththu unleashed her best, scoring an explosive 195* in a successful chase of 302. Her batting brilliance not only helped Sri Lanka achieve a record for the highest successful run-chase in Women’s ODIs but also made her the third-highest individual scorer in Women’s ODIs and the highest in a chase.

In the same game, her counterpart, South Africa skipper Wolvaardt, also achieved a century. However, Athapaththu's extraordinary performance, comprising a 139-ball knock with 26 fours and five sixes, overshadowed Wolvaardt's century.

Athapaththu also rose to the top of the ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings. In April, Athpathuthu played two group games of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024. She scored 16 against Thailand and an unbeaten 59 against Scotland.

Vote for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for April 2024