Chaminda Vaas wins monthly FTI MVP award for June – 05/07/10

Chaminda Vaas wins monthly FTI MVP award for June – 05/07/10 Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, who is playing for Northamptonshire this season, has won the monthly FTI MVP award for June. The 36 year-old has accumulated 250 runs and 22 wickets throughout June over the course of ten Friends Provident t20 matches and one LV= County Championship match to earn a total of 168 points. Kent’s Darren Stevens finished runner up with 159 points and Nottinghamshire’s Samit Patel was third with 156 points. Vaas, who has represented Sri Lanka 439 times in all formats, has had a number of match winning performances for the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Friends Provident t20, including scoring 73 from 49 balls and 3-23 against Durham Dynamos to steer his side to a comfortable 30 run win. Vaas has hit two further half centuries during June, 54 from 42 balls against the Worcester Royals and 50 from 36 balls against Leicester Foxes and he has contributed 19% of the total runs scored by Northants during their Friends Provident t20 campaign. Vaas’ performances with the ball have been equally impressive including 3-16 against the Nottinghamshire Outlaws and 3-32 against Lancashire Lightning. The Sri Lankan was instrumental in Northants’ five Friends Provident t20 victories and one LV= County Championship during June. Originally conceived by the PCA, the FTI MVP Rankings (powered by PA Sport, with additional data analysis and insight from FTI Consulting) are a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held – and how well they do it. Speaking on his achievement Chaminda Vaas said: ” I’m so happy to have won the FTI MVP player of the month for June. Doing well with bat and ball has been fun and helped contribute to our recent victories." Jim Vint, Managing Director at FTI Consulting Inc said: ” The Friends Provident t20 tournament matches have provided some great cricket and stiff competition for the June FTI MVPs Award. Congratulations to Chaminda for taking this month’s honours.” A monthly FTI MVP award will be announced throughout the summer for the leading player across the LV= County Championship, Friends Provident t20 and Clydesdale Bank 40. FTI MVP awards are also presented to the leading domestic player at the end of each county season and the leading England player at the end of the domestic international season and again following the winter tour period. For more information on the current standings for the FTI MVP Rankings check www.ecb.co.uk/stats