Key Points

West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews has nearly overtaken Beth Mooney as the top T20I batter after her match-winning performances against South Africa. Her 147-run series haul lifted her to a career-high 770 rating points, just 24 behind the Australian star. South Africa saw multiple players rise in rankings including Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt. The series also reshaped bowling rankings with WI's Afy Fletcher and SA's Mlaba making significant gains.

Key Points: Hayley Matthews Nears Top T20I Batting Spot After SA Series

  • Matthews inches closer to top T20I batting rank with 147-run series
  • South Africa's Brits jumps to 6th in T20I rankings
  • Fletcher boosts WI bowling rank to 12th
  • Wolvaardt trails Mandhana by 2 ODI points
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Hayley Matthews inches closer to top spot in T20I batting rankings

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews closes gap to Beth Mooney in ICC rankings after stellar 147-run series vs South Africa.

Hayley Matthews inches closer to top spot in T20I batting rankings
"Matthews reached a career-high 770 rating points, just 24 behind Mooney - ICC Rankings Update"

Dubai, June 24

West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews' heroics against South Africa has seen her close in on top spot on the latest ICC Women's T20I batting rankings.

Matthews amassed 147 runs over three T20Is at home, playing a pivotal role in West Indies' drought-breaking 2-1 series win. Her impressive performance also brought her within striking distance of Beth Mooney’s top spot in the T20I batting rankings.

The 27-year-old reached a career-high 770 rating points, narrowing the gap to Mooney at the top to just 24 points.

Three South African batters climbed the ICC rankings following strong performances against the West Indies, with Tazmin Brits rising two spots to sixth, Nadine de Klerk moving up three places to 51st, and Annerie Dercksen jumping eight positions to a joint 79th.

South Africa also saw gains in the T20I bowling rankings, with Nonkululeko Mlaba climbing six spots to a share of eighth place and Ayabonga Khaka moving up four positions to equal 38th, making them two of the biggest movers in the latest update.

West Indies received a boost in the T20I bowling rankings thanks to veteran spinner Afy Fletcher, who climbed three spots to 12th after claiming two wickets in both the second and third T20Is. Meanwhile, Hayley Matthews continues to hold the No.1 position on the T20I all-rounders' list.

The final ODI between West Indies and South Africa also brought notable shifts in the ICC ODI rankings. Tazmin Brits emerged as a standout performer, finishing as the top run-scorer across the three-match series with 184 runs. Her efforts earned her a six-place jump to 21st in the ODI batting rankings - a career-best position.

Brits’ opening partner, Laura Wolvaardt, also made a move after scoring 75 in the final ODI. The Proteas captain moved out of a tie for second and is now just two rating points behind Smriti Mandhana for the top spot.

In the bowling charts, South Africa's Marizanne Kapp rose two spots to seventh, while Nonkululeko Mlaba gained three places to reach 20th. Masabata Klaas also saw a significant rise, climbing six spots to a joint 37th position.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments on the Hayley Matthews T20I rankings news:
P
Priya K.
Hayley Matthews is such a joy to watch! Her consistency is remarkable. As an Indian cricket fan, I wish our women's team had more all-rounders like her. The way she contributes with both bat and ball is 👌 Hope Smriti can maintain her ODI top spot though!
R
Rahul S.
Good to see women's cricket getting more competitive. The rankings are getting tighter which makes matches more exciting. West Indies women's team has improved a lot - remember when we used to dominate them easily? Now every match is a challenge.
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Ananya P.
While Matthews is doing great, I'm more concerned about our Indian players slipping in rankings. Harmanpreet's form has dipped and we need new talent to step up. BCCI should organize more domestic tournaments to nurture young players.
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Vikram J.
The rise of South African players is impressive too! Their cricket board is investing well in women's cricket. We should learn from their system. Also, when will ICC give women's cricket the same importance as men's? Same prize money, same coverage?
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Sneha M.
Matthews truly deserves the top spot soon! Her leadership plus performance is outstanding. But let's not forget our Smriti Mandhana - she's holding her own against tough competition. Indian women's cricket needs more support from fans and sponsors!
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Karan R.
Interesting to see how T20 rankings keep changing. Unlike men's cricket where rankings are more stable, women's game has more volatility. Shows how rapidly the sport is evolving globally. Hope India hosts more international women's series soon!

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