Wanindu Hasaranga player of Sri Lanka and Kushal Mendis along with West Indies’s Sherfane Rutherford and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai were shortlisted for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the year 2024 award.
26 wickets at 15.61, economy 5.36, 87 runs at 17.40, strike rate 101.60
Wanindu Hasaranga bonding his reputation as a wizard of white-ball cricket, taking a wicket inside every three overs in one day international cricket throughout the year. He bragged 11 wickets in his first three 50-over matches of the year 2024, taking 7/19 in 5.5 overs against Zimbabwe, before a 4/27 (6.5) performance against Afghanistan in Pallekele in mid-February.
In the three-match ODI series away in Chattogram six wickets came, before a 3/58 effort against India upon his return to the bowling crease in August. Spells of 2/18(6) and 4/40 (8) followed against the west Indies, finishing a five-match stretch.
Memorable Performance:
In January 2024, Hasaranga made headlines when claimed 7/19 from just 5.5 overs versus Zimbabwe in Colombo.
After Hasaranga found Takudzwanashe Kaitano’s top edge for an easy catch for Dilshan Madushanka at short fine-leg Kusal Mendis had already utilized four bowlers when he threw the ball to his leg-spinner for just the ninth over of the match, though the decision was vindicated
With Joylord Gumbie and Craig Ervine falling in Hasaranga’s next over, the wicket began a procession for Hasaranga and Sri Lanka and Milton Shumba in his third over to go from 43/0 to 48/4.
Hasaranga returned to claim Clive Madande for a golden duck, before cleaning up the tail with wickets of Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza, as the whole Zimbabwe team were bundled out for just 96.
As the leg-spinner walked off with 7/19 off just 5.5 overs, and was adjudged player of the Match for his utilizes.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan):
12 innings, 417 runs at 52.12, Strike Rate 105.56, 7 wickets at 20.47, economy 4.90
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka):
17 innings, 742 runs at 53.00, Strike Rate 90.59
Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies):
425 runs at 106.25, average 106.25, strike rate 120.05.
