Smriti Mandhana returns to number one in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings

Smriti Mandhana

Khel Today Bureau

Dubai: India batter Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the number one position in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. The 28-year-old rose one slot, returning to the top for the first time since November 2019.

South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, slipped to joint-second place (shared with England’s new captain Nat Siver-Brunt), following innings of 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.

This gave way to Mandhana, who now sits comfortably with 727 ratings points to the runners’ ups’ 719, ending Wolvaardt’s more than six-month long perch at the top.

Wolvaardt’s teammate, Tazmin Brits advanced five places to 27th thanks to her half-century in the first match of the three-match series, which is currently levelled after South Africa bounced back from their opening, four-wicket loss to beat the hosts by 40 runs in the second match in Barbados over the weekend.

In other movements, former Proteas captain, Suné Luus, struck 76 in the second match to gain seven places to 42nd in the batters list and rose seven slots to 42nd in the bowlers list.

The West Indies’ opener Qiana Joseph’s innings of 60 in their first match saw her leap 12 slots to joint-67th place.

Spinners, Afy Fletcher and Nonkululeko Mlaba, made the most significant gains in the bowlers list, progressing four and six places respectively to 19th and 23rd place after they both took four wickets in the second match.