Smriti Mandhana Becomes No.1 ODI Batswoman

Riding on her sensational performances in the recently-concluded One-Day International series against New Zealand, India opener Smriti Mandhana has moved up three spots to attain the number one rank in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings, released on Saturday

The left-handed batter began the series with a stunning century, scoring 105 as India won the first ODI by 9 wickets. In the following game, she scored an unbeaten 90 to help India win again and seal the series before scoring 1 in the inconsequential game. Mandhana now sits above the Australian duo Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning.

Mandhana has been in red hot form in ODIs since the start of 2018. She has scored two centuries and eight half-centuries in 15 games since the beginning of last year.

New Zealand skipper Amy Satterhwaite, who smashed consecutive half-centuries in the series against India, jumped ten places to take the number four spot. Satterhwaite is followed by India skipper Mithali Raj. Former New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates rose up one place to number six following her half-century in Hamilton, which propelled her side to victory in the third ODI against India.

Lizelle Lee of South Africa, Tammy Beaumont of England, Stafanie Taylor of West Indies and Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka complete the top ten in the rankings.

Another batter to make a significant gain in the rankings is India’s youngster Jemimah Rodrigues. The 18-year old, who scored 81 in the first ODI, jumped a massive 64 places to take number 61 spot in the rankings.

Among the bowlers, Indian spinners Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma jumped five places each and now sit at number eight and nine respectively. Poonam took six wickets in the series against New Zealand, while Deepti picked up four. Ekta Bisht jumped up nine places to number 13 after taking five wickets in three games. Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who had taken 3 for 23 in the second ODI, rose one place to take number four and is the highest-ranked Indian in the top five.