As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup approaches, players from Pakistan have made significant strides in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, following a dominant performance against Zimbabwe. The series, held in Karachi, saw Pakistan sweeping Zimbabwe 3-0.
Fatima Sana’s Record-Breaking Performance
Captain Fatima Sana stood out with impressive performances both as a batsman and a bowler. In the opening match, she claimed three wickets for just seven runs. Her crowning achievement came in the final game, where she scored an unbeaten 62 runs off just 19 balls. This record-setting knock included the fastest half-century in women’s T20I history, completed in a mere 15 deliveries.
Ranking Climb and Major Achievements
Fatima’s exemplary performance led to her significant rise in the rankings. She moved up four places to rank 23rd among batters and six places to joint-29th in the bowlers’ standings. Fatima maintains her position at sixth among all-rounders and has reached a career-best rating of 328 points.
Ayesha Zafar’s Impressive Series
Teammate Ayesha Zafar also made headlines by being named Player of the Series. She scored 102 not out in the first match and followed up with 45 runs in the final game. Zafar’s performance propelled her up by 190 places to joint-52nd in the T20I batting rankings.
Bowling Dominance by Sadia Iqbal
Sadia Iqbal further solidified her standing in the bowling charts by extending her lead to 19 points over England’s Sophie Ecclestone.
New Zealand’s Rising Stars
In related news, New Zealand’s Brooke Halliday advanced three spots to break into the top 15 of the Women’s ODI Player Rankings. Her move follows an unbeaten innings of 42 runs against England, contributing to a 17-run victory via the DLS method.
Player of the Series – Maddy Green
Maddy Green was recognized as the Player of the Series for scoring a total of 125 runs across two matches.
Advancements in Bowler Rankings
- Isabella Gaze climbed seven places to 51st.
- England’s Charlie Dean rose four spots to 58th.
- Alice Capsey gained two positions to 75th after a score of 45.
Lauren Bell’s Bowling Brilliance
Lauren Bell claimed the top three New Zealand batters in one match and moved into the top 20 for bowlers, sitting at 17th with 562 career-best rating points. Emma Lamb also made a notable jump of 16 slots to 37th after taking two wickets for 29 runs in her last match.
These developments in the ICC rankings highlight the growing talent in women’s cricket, setting the stage for an exciting World Cup. For more on the ICC Rankings and Women’s Championship, stay tuned to El-Balad.
