(WS News) – A host of spinners across multiple series showed their wares in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, and their efforts were rewarded in the latest T20I Bowling Rankings update.
Pakistan’s Nashra Sundhu’s 2/20 (4) earned her a six-spot jump to eighth (691), while Australia’s Ash Gardner also jumped half a dozen spots to ninth (682), over Bangladesh’s Rabeya Khan (677)
Gardner almost didn’t feature at all in the Trans-Tasman series, caught up in a freak warm-up accident with teammate Georgia Wareham ahead of the first meeting between the teams in Mackay.
Cleared of concussion, though sitting out the opening match, the off-spinning all-rounder was called in for match two, taking 3/16 (4) in a classy performance.
On the other side, leg-spinner Melie Kerr once again showed her importance for New Zealand ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, claiming 4/20 (4) in the second outing to move four spots and into the top 20.
Other bowling moves of note include fast bowler Annabel Sutherland also entering the top 20 (19th) with a five-spot jump (632 points), with Tumi Sekhukhune of South Africa moving into the top 50 with an eight-spot jump to 43rd after solid outings in Pakistan.
There was limited movement at the top of the T20I Batting Rankings, though Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield made a pre-tournament statement with a 20-spot jump to 41st thanks to scores of 64* (43) in the first T20I against the Kiwis. Over in Pakistan, recently appointed captain Fatima Sana again highlighted her evolution with the bat, making 37* (23) and 27 (17) in a 22-spot jump, also moving up four spots on the All-Rounder rankings.
While there was no change in the top 10 in the All-Rounder category, there was a two-spot move from Chloe Tryon to a career high rating of 204 points, moving to 13th, a spot below compatriot Nadine de Klerk.
