Ace India batter Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday solidified her status as the No.1 batter in women’s ODIs after achieving a career-best rating after an outstanding home World Cup campaign.
Mandhana scored 109
against New Zealand and remained unbeaten with 34 against Bangladesh in her last two games, increasing her rating to 828.
This places Mandhana almost 100 points ahead of Australia’s Ash Gardner, who is in second place (731), having climbed six spots after her unbeaten hundred against England.
Mandhana’s brilliant run continues, having been named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September for her performances in the ODI series against Australia before the World Cup.
South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt also entered the top three with a two-spot jump, thanks to her scores of 90 and 31.
England’s Amy Jones advanced into the top 10 with a four-spot rise to ninth place (656), while Annabel Sutherland made the biggest leap among the top 40, climbing 16 spots to 16th (613).
Another Indian batter, Pratika Rawal, who will miss the remainder of the World Cup because of injury, moved into the top 30, now in 27th place with a rating of 564.
Spin has played a significant role in the tournament and the rankings reflect the efforts of multiple cricketers.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone remains at the top of the women’s ODI bowling rankings (747), though she faces a new contender in Aussie leg-spinner Alana King, who took a seven-for against South Africa.
King moved up five places with a career-high rating of 698, going past her teammate Gardner, who dropped one position to third (689).
Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu is tied for 10th with Protea left-arm orthodox spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (610), while pacers Marizanne Kapp and Sutherland each moved up one spot to fourth and seventh.
Another left-arm orthodox exponent, Linsey Smith, was the most improved, climbing 24 spots to 36th (444).
Gardner’s performances have cemented her No. 1 position in the all-rounder rankings (rating 503), with Kapp now the new No. 2, overtaking West Indies’ Hayley Matthews with a rating of 422.
Sutherland’s performances moved her to fourth place as well, with her teammate King entering the top 10 with a three-spot climb to 262.
(With PTI Inputs)
