Smriti Mandhana scoops Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award and ODI Player of Year

Left-handed opening batter Mandhana had a blistering year on the international front, helping her India side to an ODI series victory against England, as well as series wins against Sri Lanka and South Africa in both T20I and ODI formats.

Mandhana averaged 66.90 in ODIs with a whopping seven half-centuries to go alongside her solitary ton – a dominant 135 smashed against South Africa in February. With 669 runs in 12 50-over games for her country in 2018, no-one can better her tally this year.

She was one of only three to amass over 600 runs in the shorter format, hitting five fifties over the course of the year and at an impressive strike-rate of 130.67.

Mandhana also starred for India in their Women's World T20 campaign in the West Indies, finishing as third top scorer in the tournament with 178 runs as her side crashed out to England in the semi-finals. Her 55-ball 83 against eventual champions Australia was a particularly striking display of batsmanship.

Performances across both formats secured Mandhana the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award, the annual prize for ICC's female cricketer of the year, named after the legendary England cricketer and pioneer of the women's game.

For the ODI Player of the Year, runner-up was New Zealand's Sophie Devine, while Pakistan bowler Sana Mir came in third. All-rounder Devine, despite only playing seven ODIs in 2018, hit a remarkable two centuries and three 50s at an average of 106.60, while Mir's 19 wickets at just 11.78 secured her berth in the top three.