Top Five Cricketers of the Week from August 6 to 12

In this week, a total of two ODIs were played between Sri Lanka and South Africa and a Test match between England and India. Two out of these three matches turned out to be a one-sided contest. This article covers the top five performers from these three matches played this week.

5. DASUN SHANAKA:

He was awarded as the Man of the Match in the 4th ODI against South Africa

It was a five-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and South Africa. South Africa sealed the series by winning the first three ODIs of which Shanaka was not the part of the Sri Lankan playing XI. The fourth ODI was a rain-hit ODI at Kandy due to which, batting first, Sri Lanka got only 39 overs to bat. Shanaka joined Thisara Perera when Sri Lanka was 195-6 in 27.2 overs. They both then had a swift partnership of 109 runs in 68 balls in which Shanaka contributed 65 runs in 34 balls due to which Sri Lanka could able to score 306-7 in 39 overs. Sri Lanka won the match by 3 runs as per D/L method. For his match-winning performance, Shanaka was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

4. ANGELO MATHEWS:

He played a crucial part in Sri Lanka's batting in the 5th ODI against South Africa

Batting first in the fifth ODI, Sri Lanka got a positive start. When Mathews came to the crease, Sri Lanka were cruising at six per over. Due to his unbeaten run a ball 97, Sri Lanka managed to put 299 runs on the board in 50 overs. In reply, South Africa only managed to score 121 runs.

Mathews was the leading run-getter of the five-match ODI series with 235 runs at an average of 78.

3. AKILA DANANJAYA:

He was awarded as the Man of the Match in the 5th ODI against South Africa

After a mediocre performance in the first four ODIs, Akila returned with a match-winning spell in the final ODI against South Africa. Batting first, Sri Lanka made 299 runs. In reply, South Africa only made 121 runs courtesy Dananjaya's career best 6/29. Sri Lanka won the match but lost the series 3-2.

For his performance, he got an appreciation from his skipper Mathews saying, " Akila is made of steel, going for runs in the last couple of games and coming back with a six-for in this game was fantastic." Dananjaya was the leading wicket-taker of the five-match ODI series with 14 wickets.

2. JAMES ANDERSON:

He is currently the leading wicket-taker of the series against India

Continuing his good form from the first Test, Anderson carried on troubling the Indian batsmen by his swings in the second Test also. By utilizing the conditions properly, he rocked India with his five-for in the first innings, followed by four wickets in the second innings. He became the first bowler to pick 100 Test wickets at Lord's. At present, he is the leading wicket-taker of the series with 13 wickets in two Test matches. England won the match by an innings and 159 runs and is currently leading the five-match series 2-0.

1. CHRIS WOAKES:

He was awarded as the Man of the Match in the 2nd Test against India

The second Test against India was his comeback match after the injury, which he sustained against Pakistan in June. He replaced Ben Stokes after the conditions were pace friendly, which made Root pick him ahead of Ali. Batting first, India made only 107. Woakes came to bat when England was 131-5 with Bairstow at the other end. He made his maiden Test century with an unbeaten knock of 137 runs and had 189 runs partnership with Bairstow and 76 runs partnership with Curran, which made England declare their innings at 396 runs. In reply, India got all out on 130 and lost the match by an innings.

Woakes also took two wickets in each inning. At present, he is at the third position in the highest run-getter list of the series.