Shafali Verma Climbs To The Top Of ICC T20I Women Rankings

India’s women opener Shafali Verma has regained the top spot in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as she produced a stellar show in the ongoing three-match T20I series against South Africa in Lucknow. Shafali Verma climbed to the summit for the first time in her career and had an outstanding T20 World Cup last year in Australia. The 17-year old leapfrogged Beth Mooney with scores of 23 and 47.

South Africa opening batter Lizelle Lee is another player to surge in the T20I rankings even as the swashbuckling opener lost her first position in ODIs within a week of replacing England’s Tammy Beaumont. Lee gained three places to reach the 11th spot amongst the T20 batters after scoring a classy 70 in the second T20 international. Laura Wolvaardt also rose five slots to 24th by crafting an unbeaten knock of 53.

Proteas’ women’s captain Sune Luus was up by five places to 38th, while Nadine de Klerk also jumped three slots to be at 74th. As far as India’s women’s team goes, Deepti Sharma moved up to the 40th slot, while teenager Richa Ghosh progressed to 85th, gaining 59 spots. All-rounder Harleen Deol has advanced to 99 in batting rankings, up by 262 places and 76 slots to 146th amongst bowlers. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakward has surged from 34th to 25th position.

Shafali Verma’s efforts go in vain in both the T20Is:

Shafali Verma might have jumped to the top of the rankings; however, her innings of 23 and 47 in two T20Is, went in vain since South Africa got home in both games comfortably. The hosts managed 130 and 158 in both matches, but the Proteas chased it down with eight and six wickets to spare, respectively.

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