Three performers have been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2026 after putting together strong performances. Hayley Matthews, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nat Sciver-Brunt are the three players in the race for the award.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
Hayley Matthews had a superb month in July, making a big impact in the three ODIs she played. The West Indies all-rounder scored two centuries and contributed with the ball as well. Her best innings came in the first ODI against Ireland, where she made a career-best unbeaten 159. She showed her value in both departments and played a major role in West Indies’ strong performances during the series.
In the opening ODI, Matthews first made an impact with the ball, taking 3/52 in the first innings. She then produced a match-winning 159* in the chase. She also shared a record-breaking partnership with Realeanna Grimmond, helping West Indies complete the chase successfully. It was a complete all-round performance from Matthews and a strong start to her month.
Matthews continued her good form in the second ODI, scoring another century. She made 100 and also took 2/34 with the ball. In the third ODI, she managed only six runs with the bat, but she again contributed with the ball by taking 2/37. Her ability to make an impact even when she did not score heavily kept her among the leading performers of the series.
Across the three matches, Matthews scored 265 runs at an average of 132.50 and a strike rate of 117.25. She also took seven wickets at an average of 17.57. These numbers show how important she was to West Indies during July and highlight her strong performances as both a batter and a bowler.
Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka)
Harshitha Samarawickrama was another major performer in July during Sri Lanka’s ODI series against Pakistan. The left-hander scored 173 runs at an average of 173 and a strike rate of 77.23. Her consistent batting helped Sri Lanka win the series 2-1. She also finished the series as the Player of the Series after making important contributions in the matches that mattered most.
Samarawickrama had a quiet start, scoring only two runs in the first ODI. She quickly turned things around in the second match, hitting an excellent 100 from 119 balls. During that innings, she shared a 203-run partnership with Vishmi Gunaratne. The partnership helped Sri Lanka complete a successful chase and gave the team an important win in the series.
She carried that form into the deciding ODI, where she remained unbeaten on 71. Her innings helped Sri Lanka successfully chase 187 and seal a 2-1 series victory. Her ability to recover after a low score and then deliver in the next two matches made her one of the standout players of the series.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
Nat Sciver-Brunt played an important role in England’s run to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final. She produced key performances when her team needed them most, with her biggest contribution coming in the semi-final against South Africa. England were in trouble at 23/3, but Sciver-Brunt scored a crucial 75 to steady the innings and help her side recover.
She shared an important partnership with Heather Knight, helping England post a strong total and reach the final. Her 75 earned her the Player of the Match award and was one of the main reasons England were able to overcome South Africa in the semi-final.
In the final against Australia, Sciver-Brunt again made a valuable contribution. England fell short of winning the title, but she stood up under pressure and scored 58 off 53 balls. Across the tournament, she scored 133 runs at a strike rate of 133, showing her importance to England’s batting line-up throughout their campaign.
The three nominees have produced different match-winning performances. Matthews stood out with her all-round contribution, Samarawickrama played a key role in Sri Lanka’s series win, while Sciver-Brunt delivered important knocks on the biggest stage. With all three having strong cases for the award, the final winner will be decided through the ICC Women’s Player of the Month voting.
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