Beaumont named Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year ahead of Mandhana-Andhravilas

Beaumont named Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year ahead of Mandhana

Dubai, Jan 23 - England opener Tammy Beaumont on Sunday was voted as the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021. Tammy beat competition from fellow team-mate Nat Sciver, India's Smriti Mandhana and Ireland's Gaby Lewis to win the award.

Tammy was England's highest run-getter in the year 2021 in T20Is, and third-highest overall in the world with 303 runs in nine matches at an average of 33.66, including three half-centuries.

"It's a huge privilege to win the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year Award. I've worked incredibly hard on my T20 game in the last few years. My T20I career has had its ups and downs and I don't think I've always been known for my T20 abilities, so this award gives me a huge amount of confidence," said Tammy.

In a low-scoring series against New Zealand away from home, Tammy was the top run-scorer and was awarded the 'Player of the Series' for amassing 102 runs in three matches. Her 53-ball 63 in the second match put England in a winning position after they lost two wickets in the Powerplay. She scored a brilliant fifty against India, though it went in vain after a lower-order collapse.

Tammy continued to make merry against New Zealand, this time when they visited England for a limited-overs tour. She once again finished as the highest run-getter in the series with 113, which included a stunning 97 in the opening game of the series.

Her dominating 97 off just 65 balls in the series opener against New Zealand at Chelmsford propelled England to 184/4, their highest T20I total in 2021. Tammy took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers from the word go, smashing two boundaries in the very first over of the innings.

"As a team we had a great year in terms of T20I results and it feels great to have contributed to team wins. We've got a big year ahead in all formats -- with the Ashes, the ICC Women's World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, and I look forward to continuing to work hard alongside my teammates to help us win as many games as possible," added the 30-year-old.

After a slight lull in the middle overs caused by Dani Wyatt's dismissal, Tammy cut loose, whacking four consecutive boundaries to bring her fifty up in 40 balls. There was no respite for the New Zealand bowlers as the England opener continued to find the boundaries regularly before eventually falling off the penultimate ball, just three runs short of a hundred.

--IANS

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(IANS)

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