IRELAND all-rounder Orla Prendergast has won the ICC Player of the Month Award for August.

She took the prize ahead of Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali and the Netherlands’ seam bowler Iris Zwilling.

Prendergast was named Player of the Series in the 2-1 home T20I series win over Pakistan. She scored 144 runs and took four wickets in that series and maintained her fine form in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, aggregating 244 runs and finishing with seven wickets in the month of August.

Prendergast said: ‘I’m delighted to have received this award and would like to extend my thanks to the ICC and anyone who voted for me. I’d also like to acknowledge my teammates and our support staff who have worked hard all summer to come away with some important series wins.

‘The T20I series win against Pakistan was the highlight of the summer. Additionally, we had a brilliant series win against Zimbabwe and completed a clean sweep at the European T20 Qualifiers. We’ll be looking to build on these performances into our winter series and the Global T20 qualifiers in January.

‘Personally, though, this award means a lot and further validates the decision I made five years ago to pursue cricket as a career. When I was growing up, that wasn't an option. But today, a young girl is able to see women's cricket being played live on TV or online.’

The ICC awards emerge from a vote conducted among global fans registered at icc-cricket.com and a specialist panel comprising former international players and media representatives, including former Ireland batter Clare Shillington and Mailsport cricket writer Ger Siggins.

Prendergast is the fifth Irish woman to win a monthly award, following Eimear Richardson (August 2021), Laura Delany (October 2021), Arlene Kelly (August 2023), and Amy Hunter (January 2024). Harry Tector, in July 2023, is the only Irish man to do so.