Mendis overcame fellow standout performers in Tests, Ireland\u2019s Mark Adair and New Zealand\u2019s Matt Henry to claim the March award, while Bouchier wins from past winners Amelia Kerr of New Zealand and four-time Women\u2019s Player of the Month, Australia\u2019s Ashleigh Gardner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mendis claimed the ICC Men\u2019s Player of the Month award after his historic efforts at the crease helped Sri Lanka comfortably win the first Test in their ICC World Test Championship showdown against Bangladesh in Sylhet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bouchier won the ICC Women\u2019s Player of the Month prize for March 2024 thanks to a sparkling series of scores in New Zealand as the tourists secured a statement 4-1 T20I series win in March.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
ICC Men\u2019s Player of the Month Mendis may have made a quiet start to the month in the T20I series that opened Sri Lanka\u2019s tour to Bangladesh, but he soon reversed his fortunes with a memorable performance in the first Test match in Sylhet, the ICC informed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Striding out to the crease with the tourists at 57 for five, Mendis rescued Sri Lanka\u2019s first innings alongside Dhananjaya de Silva, thwarting Bangladesh\u2019s firing bowlers on his way to hitting a controlled 102 \u2013 his first Test century \u2013 to help them post a respectable opening total of 280.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With a healthy first-innings lead, the second innings presented a similar challenge when Mendis came to the middle. Sri Lanka had extended their advantage but limped to 126 for six when the batter initiated another stirring fightback, supported again by the brilliant de Silva at the other end. Both batters counterattacked and crossed the three-figure milestone, but Mendis\u2019 mammoth 164 in 237 balls was the standout performance as Sri Lanka eventually sealed victory by 328 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With his century in the second innings, Mendis became the first player batting at number seven or lower to hit two centuries in a single Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
ICC Men\u2019s Player of the Month for March, Kamindu Mendis, said, \u201cI am extremely happy to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month, which I consider an inspiration for my international career. A recognition such as this motivates and makes us as players work more and more to deliver in the middle for the team, country, and fans.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI also wish the very best for the other two players who were nominated along with me, Mark Adair and Matt Henry, whom I consider excellent players and good competitors.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
ICC Women\u2019s Player of the Month Bouchier secures her maiden win after starring in England\u2019s T20I series in New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 25-year-old amassed 223 runs at an average of 55.75 from her five T20I matches during the month, guiding the visitors to a memorable 4-1 series win through a showcase of explosive performances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bouchier began the series with an unbeaten 43 in the opener, setting a challenging total alongside captain Heather Knight which was easily defended by England\u2019s bowlers. Her next impressive knock came in the third match, where she smashed 71 in 47 balls despite England falling short in Nelson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Promoted to open the batting in the subsequent decisive encounter in Wellington, Bouchier hit her highest T20I score, blasting 91 in just 56 balls which included 12 fours and two sixes, to secure the series victory and collect the Player of the Match award in a 47-run win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
ICC Women\u2019s Player of the Month for March, Maia Bouchier, said, \u201cFirst of all, thank you to everyone who voted for me. I am so happy and grateful to everyone: my family and partner and the staff and my teammates who have supported me whilst playing at the international level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI am so honoured to have won this award and I hope there are many more to come. It's been such an amazing couple of months, from training through the winter with my coaches at home and transferring what I've been working on into this series, so I am really glad I have been able to perform for the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mendis and Bouchier were voted as the March winners by global fans registered at ICC-cricket.com and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mendis-and-bouchier-named-icc-players-of-the-month-for-march-2024.jpeg", "alt_img": "Mendis and Bouchier named ICC Players of the Month for March 2024", "alt_title": "Sri Lanka call back Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis for ODI series against Bangladesh", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Mendis And Bouchier Named ICC Players Of The Month For March 2024 On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Mendis And Bouchier Named ICC Players Of The Month For March 2024, ICC World Test Championship: Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis and England's Maia Boucher have been named the Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Player.", "seo_keywords": "Kamindu Mendis, Maia Boucher, ICC Award, Sri Lanka, International Cricket Council, Mark Adair, New Zealand, Matt Henry, Amelia Kerr, Ashleigh Gardner, ICC Men, ICC World Test Championship, ICC Women, Month Mendis, Month Bouchier, Heather Knight, Maia", "tag": "", "tagging": "Kamindu Mendis, Maia Boucher, ICC Award, Sri Lanka, International Cricket Council, Mark Adair, New Zealand, Matt Henry, Amelia Kerr, Ashleigh Gardner, ICC Men, ICC World Test Championship, ICC Women, Month Mendis, Month Bouchier, Heather Knight", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "mendis-and-bouchier-named-icc-players-of-the-month-for-march-2024", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1016", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-04-08 16:48:04", "updated": "2024-04-08 16:48:04", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Kamindu Mendis, Maia Boucher, ICC Award, Sri Lanka, International Cricket Council, Mark Adair, New Zealand, Matt Henry, Amelia Kerr, Ashleigh Gardner, ICC Men, ICC World Test Championship, ICC Women, Month Mendis, Month Bouchier, Heather Knight, Maia", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-04-08 16:48:04", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/mendis-and-bouchier-named-icc-players-of-the-month-for-march-2024-142139" }