Chamari Athapaththu’s stellar performance in the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom wasn’t just instrumental in helping Sri Lanka level the ICC Women’s Championship Series 1-1, it also propelled her back to the pinnacle of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings.
Scoring a remarkable 195 not out, Athapaththu registered her ninth ODI century, etching her name in history with the highest score in a successful chase in Women’s ODIs. This outstanding innings saw her surpass England all-rounder Natalie Sciver-Brunt and reclaim the top spot in the rankings. Athapaththu previously held the number one position from July 3rd to 12th, 2023, before being overtaken by Beth Mooney and subsequently Sciver-Brunt.
The series also witnessed significant strides in the rankings for Laura Wolvaardt, Athapaththu’s counterpart. Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 184, a key contributor to South Africa’s formidable total of 301 for five in the third ODI, propelled her two places up to the number three position.
Beyond the Top Two
The ICC Women’s Rankings update showcases impressive performances across the board. West Indies captain Hayley Mathews’ remarkable display in the ICC Women’s Championship series against Pakistan saw her climb a significant seven places to 11th among batters and to second in the all-rounders’ list. Her double of 140 not out with the bat and three for 17 with the ball in the first match is a testament to her all-around talent.
The rankings also saw notable gains for former captains Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies and Bismah Maroof of Pakistan, along with improvements from Sri Lanka’s Nilakshi de Silva and the West Indies duo of Shemaine Campbell and Chinelle Henry.
On the bowling front, Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal’s impressive performance in the first two matches against the West Indies saw her progress from 23rd to 17th position. Additionally, bowlers like Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Kavisha Dilhari (Sri Lanka), and Umm-e-Hani (Pakistan) also witnessed upward movements, underlining the depth of talent in women’s cricket.
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