Harmanpreet Kaur wins WBBL07 Player of the Tournament; Phoebe Litchfield named Young Gun

WBBL) player of the tournament for the seventh edition, while Sydney Thunder’s Phoebe Litchfield has been awarded the Young Gun of the WBBL07.

Playing for Melbourne Renegades, Kaur has been the leading run-getter and the wicket taker for their side. She scored 399 runs at an average 66.50 and a strike rate of 135.25. She also took 15 wickets at an average of 20.40 during the regular season.

The India T20I skipper, who won three player of the match awards during WBBL07, will have the opportunity to add more to her tally when Renegades take on the winners of Eliminator on Thursday (November 25).

“I’m extremely delighted, it’s something very big that I have achieved,” Kaur said. “I’m very thankful to my team and all the support staff; they have been great during this time and have supported me a lot. It’s been totally a team effort – I was just doing the job the team was requiring from me.”

The standing umpires from all the matches were adjudicators that made the decision to award Kaur, who got 31 votes to finish ahead of Perth Scorchers’ openers Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine. Brisbane Heat's Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne along with Hobart Hurricanes' Mignon du Preez also were in contention for the prestigious honour.

“We have a team that has gelled together. We support each other and that’s what we have been doing… I haven’t put any extra pressure on myself; I’ve just enjoyed being here and supporting my teammates,” Kaur added.

ALSO READ: Women's IPL will help young players prepare better for international cricket: Harmanpreet Kaur

Kaur is the third international to win the honour along with New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite and Sophie Devine (twice).  Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry are also among the recipients during previous editions of the tournament.

The 18-year-old Litchfield scored 263 runs for Thunder, their second-highest run-getter behind India’s Smriti Mandhana, at an average of 21.91 and a strike rate of 109.12. Cricket Australia’s national selection panel made the decision to award the southpaw, given to the best Under-21 player of the tournament, the title of Young Gun.

“It means a lot to be recognised with this award. It’s a surprise, to be honest. I could think of a number of other young players who would be deserving of this award, which is really exciting for the future,” Litchfield said.

“Batting at No. 3 was a challenge but also a great opportunity. I was very privileged that Trevor Griffin trusted me with that spot and I hope I made the most of it.”that has gelled together. We support each other and that’s what we have been doing… I haven’t put any extra pressure on myself; I’ve just enjoyed being here and supporting my teammates.”

Darcie Brown, Hannah Darlington, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner and Lauren Cheatle are the other recipients of the Young Gun award over the years.