Arlene Kelly wins ICC Women's Player of the Month Award

Ireland medium-pacer Arlene Kelly (in pic) won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month Award for August, trumping two players from Associate nations – Netherlands’ young all-rounder Iris Zwilling and Malaysia all-rounder Ainna Hamizah Hashim.

The right-arm pace bowler was at her best during Ireland's three-game T20I series against Netherlands.

She picked 10 wickets at an average of 4.30 to help her team to sweep the series emphatically 3-0.

“This is the fourth-best bowling average in a bilateral series where a bowler has taken 10 or more wickets and was also just the second time in women's T20Is that a bowler had taken 10 or more scalps in a bilateral series of three or fewer games,” according to a statement by International Cricket Council (ICC).  

“I am honoured to win the award for the month of August and grateful for the opportunities that cricket has provided,” Arlene was quoted as saying by ICC.

“The series win in the Netherlands was memorable, and being able to contribute with the ball made it that little bit more special.”

The 29-year-old climbed to 21st in the MRF Tyres ICC Women's T20I bowling rankings thanks to her performances in August.

The men's Player of the Month award went to Pakistan batsman Babar Azam.

Arlene also picked her best ever T20I figures of 5/12 during the first match of the series against Netherlands in which she took 10 wickets.

Cricket, Ireland, Netherlands, Malaysia