Mithali Raj closes in on top spot in ICC batswomen rankings

07/17/2017

Indian women’s team captain Mithali Raj is threatening Aussie star Meg Lanning’s position at the top of the ICC batting chart following her purple patch at the ongoing World Cup in England. The highest run-scorer in Women’s ODI cricket, Raj has already scored 356 runs in the tournament.

Indian women produced an all-round performance in the virtual quarter-final against New Zealand to register a convincing 186-run victory and thus booked a place in the semis. Raj, who has been enjoying a magnificent run this year, scored yet another 50+ score – this time a century after three years – to help India post a competitive 265 on the board, which eventually proved to be more than enough to dismantle the pre-tournament favourites, the White Ferns.

The run of form not only helped India enter the last-four but also led Raj’s progress in the ICC batswomen rankings as she closes in to displace Meg Lanning at top of the batting chart. The India captain (774 rating points) is just five points away from number one Lanning (779). Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry gained three places to reach her career-best third position.

While no other Indian batswoman is in the top-10 of the batting rankings, two bowlers - Jhulan Goswami and Ekta Bisht - found places in the top-10 of the bowling rankings. Goswami and Bisht are at the sixth and seventh position respectively while Marizanne Kapp of South Africa remained her top spot.

There was no change in positions in the ICC Women's Team Rankings, which take into account both ODIs and T20Is, with Australia gaining one point to lead the table at 128.

England, who sit at the second position, gained two points to reach 124 and are ahead of New Zealand (118), India (113), and the West Indies (104).

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