Lizelle Lee becomes top-ranked ODI batter in ICC Women’s Player Rankings

Dubai: South Africa opener Lizelle Lee shot up seven spots to become the top-ranked batter in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings released on Tuesday after a fabulous run in the ongoing five-match series against India in which her side has taken a winning 3-1 lead.

Lee, who displaced Tammy Beaumont within two weeks of the England batter seizing the top spot, had scores of four, 132 not out and 69 in the three matches during the past week after having already moved from 11th to eighth the previous week with an unbeaten 83 in the series opener.

This is the second time that Lee has topped the ODI batting charts, having earlier taken the number one position in June 2018 when she had slammed 117 against England at Hove, the ICC said on Tuesday.

Her reign that time only lasted for three days as she was overtaken by Australia’s Ellyse Perry. Lee remains the only South African to top the women’s ODI batting rankings.

Laura Goodall, whose career best 59 not out helped seal the decisive win in Lucknow, has gained 27 places to reach 48th position while off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase has moved up 18 places to 68th among bowlers.

Ayabonga Khaka has advanced one place to ninth among bowlers and gained two slots to reach 100th among batters.

For India, Punam Raut has been the biggest gainer, moving up eight places to 18th among batters after scores of 62 not out, 77 and 104 not out.

Raut, who has held a career high ranking of 13th, is fourth in the list among Indian batters after Smriti Mandhana (seventh) Mithali Raj (ninth) and Harmanpreet Kaur (15th). Kaur is up two places among batters and has gained three places to reach 49th position in the bowling list.

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad is another one to make notable gains, gaining four slots to reach 18th among bowlers with five wickets in three matches and advancing five places to 71st among batters.

Sushma Verma (up three places to 81st among batters) and Mansi Joshi (up five places to 64th among bowlers) have also gained in the latest weekly update. (UNI)