Shafali Verma regains top spot in ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings

Mithali Raj moved to 8th spot in ICC Women's ODI batting rankings.

India opener Shafali Verma is back at the top of the latest ICC women’s T20I batting rankings after fine performances in the first two T20Is against South Africa women of the ongoing three-match series being played in Ekana Stadium, Lucknow.

The 17-year-old big-hitter, who had grabbed the top position for the first time after helping her side reach the knockout phase of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup last year in Australia, has leapfrogged Australia’s Beth Mooney with scores of 23 and 47.

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Another batswoman to gain big is South African opener Lizelle Lee. Lee has gained three slots to reach 11th position among T20I batters after a match-winning 70 helped South Africa to a winning 2-0 lead.

Laura Wolvaardt has risen five places to 24th after guiding her team to victory with an unbeaten 53 in the second match while captain Sune Luus (up five places to 38th) and Nadine de Klerk (up three places to 74th) are the other South Africans to advance in the batting list.

Other changes see Deepti Sharma has moved up four places to 40th and teenager Richa Ghosh has rocketed 59 places to 85th among batters. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has advanced from 34th to 25th.

There have been changes in the Women’s ODI batting rankings as well, with India captain Mithali Raj moving up one place to eighth after an unbeaten 79 while Priya Punia has moved up to five places to 53rd.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp has moved from fourth to second among bowlers and overtaken West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor to second in the list of all-rounders led by Ellyse Perry of Australia.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is up eight places to 38th among bowlers.

(ICC inputs)