Shreyanka among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year

Dubai, Dec 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India all-rounder Shreyanka Patil is among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award for 2024. Annerie Dercksen (South Africa), Saskia Horley (Scotland) and Freya Sargent (Ireland) are the other contenders for the award, the International Cricket Council announced on Saturday.

Patil’s debut for India in December 2023 was just the beginning of an incredible year. The young bowler has been a consistent performer for India across white-ball formats and has regularly delivered in high-pressure situations.

Primarily known for his bowling, Patil also has untapped potential as a lower-order batter. Her outstanding performances in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup have cemented her place in the team.

In a must-win World Cup clash against Pakistan, Patil’s figures of 2/14 helped restrict the opposition to 105/8. Her economical bowling, including a maiden wicket, played a crucial role in keeping India’s campaign alive.

From academia to international cricket, Annerie Dercksen’s rise has been remarkable. A teacher by qualification, the 23-year-old made his debut in 2023 and quickly became an integral part of South Africa’s squad. She played a crucial role in South Africa’s journey to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2024.

Dercksen batted down the order and made the most of his opportunities, notably scoring 69 runs in a three-match T20I series against England. Her contribution with the ball across formats further highlighted her potential as an all-rounder.

Dercksen’s unbeaten 44 off 23 balls in the T20I series decider against Pakistan was a match-winning effort. Chasing 154, South Africa smashed six boundaries and two sixes, steering her team to a thrilling victory and winning the player of the match award.

Saskia Horley has been a transformative figure for Scotland’s women’s cricket team. Horley started her journey on a cricket TV show alongside Ellyse Perry and has gone on to make history for her country.

Horley’s ODI performances in 2024 were particularly notable, including Scotland’s first ever century in women’s ODIs. She also contributed significantly with the ball, showing her all-round prowess in several series, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.

In a tri-series against the Netherlands and PNG, Horley scored 100 off 121 balls and followed it up with a four-wicket haul (4/24), leading Scotland to their highest ODI total of 258/6 and an impressive win.

At just 18, Freya Sargent has quickly become a key player for Ireland. With career-best figures of 3/29 in ODIs and 3/30 in T20Is, she has demonstrated her ability to perform against top-tier teams.

Sargent’s maturity and composure, especially in pressure situations, has stood out. Her versatile contribution in both formats makes her one of the most exciting young talents in international cricket.

Opening the bowling against England in a T20I, Sargent took three crucial wickets, including a run-out, to finish with 3/30. Her battle-defining spell showed her ability to hold her own against formidable opponents.

Source: IANS