Signs good for Proteas at T20 World Cup after rankings rise

Pic courtesy of Cricket South Africa

Leading performers from South Africa have been the big winners following the latest update to the ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings.

South Africa and India are currently finalising their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 with a five-game series and players from both sides have been boosted with large gains on the updated rankings.

Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt maintains her place in fifth behind Australia's Georgia Voll on the updated rankings for T20I batters following a splendid half-century in the second game of the series against India, while teammates Annerie Dercksen (up 18 rungs to 33th) and Sune Luus (up eight spots to 35th) also make ground on the same list following strong contributions in that Durban contest.

There are also gains on the batter rankings for India opener Shafali Verma, with the right-hander moving up two places to sixth overall following her innings of 57 against the Proteas.

Smriti Mandhana (fourth) is the only player from India ahead of Shafali on the rankings for T20I batters, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (up two rungs to equal 11th) is snapping at their heels just outside the top 10 after an unbeaten innings of 47 in the series opener against South Africa.

Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal holds on to a narrow lead at the top of the rankings for T20I bowlers, but South Africa counterpart Nonkululek Mlaba is the big mover as she gains five places to move to equal sixth following two wickets from the opening pair of matches against India.

Compatriots Ayabonga Khaka (up eight slots to 25th), Chloe Tryon (up three rungs to 38th) and Tumi Sekhukhune (up 23 spots to 55th) all make ground on the same list for T20I bowlers, while India are boosted by gains for left-armer Shree Charani (up four places to 23rd).

New Zealand captain Melie Kerr maintains her spot at the top of the rankings for T20I all-rounders, with Tryon (up four places to equal 11th) and Dercksen (up 11 rungs to 29th) the biggest movers this week.

There are also changes to the ODI Player Rankings this week following the opening game of the three-match series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with Sharmin Akhter (up seven spots to 22nd) the eye-catcher on the list for ODI batters following her innings of 86 in Rajshahi.

Teammate Sobhana Mostary (up eight rungs to 50th) also makes ground following her innings of 41 from the same contest, while Nahida Akter (up one place to 13th), Rabeya Khan (up one spot to 20th) and Marufa Akter (up nine slots to equal 43rd) are among the movers on the list for ODI bowlers.