Dubai: Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma were included in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year led by South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt. Smriti Mandhana reigned supreme in 2024, finishing as the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs with an impressive tally of 747 runs in just 13 matches. Her year began modestly with a 29-run knock against Australia in January. However, after a six-month hiatus from ODIs, Mandhana returned to action against South Africa in blistering form.
Mandhana’s consistency was evident once again in October when she ended a shaky series against New Zealand with a stunning century, becoming India’s most prolific century-maker in women’s ODIs. She capped off the year with another century at the WACA against Australia and delivered a strong showing against the West Indies, narrowly missing a hundred but contributing two half-centuries.
Laura Wolvaardt’s 2024 was marked by dominance and elegance, as she amassed 697 runs in just 12 matches. After a slow start against Australia, she burst into form with an unbeaten 110 and a career-best 184* against Sri Lanka in April. Wolvaardt’s golden run continued against India, where she smashed a run-a-ball 135 in Bengaluru and added a half-century in the final match of the series. She ended the year with two crucial fifties against England, cementing her place as one of the top ODI performers of 2024.
Chamari Athapaththu had a stellar year, combining her batting and bowling prowess to great effect. She scored 458 runs and took 9 wickets in just 9 matches. Athapaththu’s career-best knock of 195* against South Africa in April set the tone for her year. She followed it up with a crucial 91 against the West Indies during Sri Lanka’s 3-0 series sweep. Her all-round brilliance was on display in Sri Lanka’s final ODI series, where she contributed 48 runs and claimed 3 wickets in the final match. IANS
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