Motie named ICC player of the month

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

GUDAKESH MOTIE was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May just a day after he played a leading role in helping the West Indies to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight quarterfinals.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s world organising body, announced yesterday that the Guyanese left-arm spinner became the second West Indies player to secure the Men’s Player-of-the-Month award this year.

His fast-bowling compatriot, Shamar Joseph, claimed the award in January after bursting on to the scene with his sensational performance that led to an unforgettable Test win against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Motie faced stiff competition from Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and Ireland batsman Lorcan Tucker for the monthly award.

“It means a lot to me, and I am very happy to win this award,” he said in an ICC news release.

“It’s very encouraging. I have put in a lot of work during this season, and I am happy that I am seeing the rewards now.”

After enjoying plenty success in three T20 Internationals against South Africa played exclusively in Jamaica, the 29-year-old is continuing to shine during the World Cup, and his three wickets on Wednesday enabled the Caribbean side to clinch a 13-run win against New Zealand at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Trinidad.

“Playing in a World Cup means a lot to me, and playing at home in front of our fans and knowing the conditions is also special,” he said.

“We have started strongly, playing three games and getting three wins, and I see us going all the way and lifting that cup on June 29.”

But it had all been set up from last month when Motie bagged eight wickets across the three matches against the South Africans at a parsimonious average of 8.50.

“The standout performance for me during the series against South Africa was the first game, where I took three for 25,” he said. “The third wicket that [day] was my favourite.”

He bowled Bjorn Fortuin for a first-ball duck with a delivery that was drifting in towards leg-stump, turned away sharply after landing, and hit the top of the off-stump.

It was similar to the delivery with which he got New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell on Wednesday and breathed life into the West Indies’ defence of their competitive target of 149 on an uneven BLCA pitch before a capacity crowd under the lights.

On the back of his performance, West Indies, minus several members of their World Cup squad, sealed a statement 3-0 victory against the Proteas last month in Kingston.

Motie picked up three for 25 in the opening contest to restrict the visitors’ chase, and he followed up with another impressive spell of three for 22 to stifle the middle-order in the second match.

Another two wickets in the final match turned the tide in favour of the hosts and enabled Motie to claim the Player-of-the-Series prize.