Wolvaardt Ascends to Top Five in ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings Following Stellar Century

South African skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, has ascended into the top five of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. This comes after her pivotal role in securing a seven-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in the second match of their ICC Women’s Championship series in Kimberley.

Wolvaardt, who notched up 41 in the first match that ended inconclusively, and an unbeaten 110 in the second match, has surpassed Australia’s Ellyse Perry to claim the fifth position. Wolvaardt, a former No.1 in the ODI rankings, currently holds the third position in the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings.

Tazmin Brits, who contributed 116 and partnered with Wolvaardt for a 94-run opening stand in the first match, has climbed seven spots to 38th position. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari (up seven places to 48th) and Nilakshi de Silva (up four places to 49th) have also improved their rankings.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka have each advanced one place to third and seventh positions, respectively. Former Sri Lanka captain Inoka Ranaweera has climbed one place to 17th, while Oshadi Ranasinghe (up 12 places to 34th) and Dilhari (up 10 places to 57th) have made significant strides after claiming two wickets each in the first match.

Scottish sisters Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce have also made substantial progress in the latest women’s weekly player rankings update, which takes into account performances in a tri-series in Abu Dhabi featuring Papua New Guinea and the United States of America (USA), in addition to Scotland.

Scottish captain Kathryn has risen 16 places to 46th position after scoring 73 against PNG, while wicketkeeper-batter Sarah has leapt 80 places to 65th with a score of 84 against the USA. Tanya Ruma of PNG, who scored an unbeaten 80 against the USA, has made a remarkable jump of 138 places to 85th position.

PNG’s off-spinner Sibona Jimmy has moved up 15 places to 68th position after taking three wickets against Scotland and one against the USA. Henao Thomas, Vicky Araa and Isabel Toua, all from PNG, along with Abtaha Maqsood of Scotland, have also made significant progress.

For more information about the ICC Rankings, click here.

For the ICC Women’s Championship standings, click here.