Smriti Mandhana back as world no.1

India's Smriti Mandhana is back as the world No.1 in ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, overtaking Laura Wolvaardt after consistent performances and a six-month gap since her last top spot

Hyderabad: India batter Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the number one position in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings.

The 28-year-old India opener rose one slot, returning to the top for the first time since November 2019.

---

South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, slipped to joint-second place (shared with England’s new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt) following innings of 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.

This gave way to Mandhana, who now sits comfortably with 727 rating points to the runners-up’s 719, ending Wolvaardt’s more than six-month-long perch at the top.

Wolvaardt’s teammate, Tazmin Brits, advanced five places to 27th thanks to her half-century in the first match of the three-match series, which is currently levelled after South Africa bounced back from their opening four-wicket loss to beat the hosts by 40 runs in the second match in Barbados over the weekend.

In other movements, former Proteas captain Suné Luus struck 76 in the second match to gain seven places to 42nd in the batters list and also rose seven slots to 42nd in the bowlers list.

The West Indies’ opener, Qiana Joseph, scored 60 in the first match to leap 12 slots to joint-67th place.

Spinners Afy Fletcher and Nonkululeko Mlaba made the most significant gains in the bowlers list, progressing four and six places respectively to 19th and 23rd place after they both took four wickets in the second match.