Opening batter Beth Mooney has reached the top of the ICC rankings for batters in women’s T20 internationals. The Australian displaced the Indian opener Shafali Verma, who slipped down to second spot with 28 rating points difference between the two.
The left-hander was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded three-match T20I series between Australia and India as she had scored 95 runs in the series at an average 47.5 while striking at 120.25.
Mooney scored 36 off 39 in the second T20I while chasing 119 and followed it up with an outstanding 61 off 43 in the third T20I, helping Australia post 149. The hosts won both these matches to claim the multi-format series by 9-5 points.
The 27-year-old, who took the opening spot after Rachael Haynes suffered an injury, scored a magnificent 125* in the second ODI to take the team home in a thrilling run-chase.
Verma had a horror series, scoring only 22 runs across three innings at an average of 7.33. Her opening partner Smriti Mandhana scored 70 runs in the series with the best of 52 and climbed up to third place. Mandhana displaced the Australian skipper Meg Lanning, who managed only 29 runs at an average 14.5.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad jumped to 12th place in Women’s T20I bowler’s rankings after claiming five wickets from two innings at an economy of 7.25. Australia’s left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux had a 12-place leap to no. 9 after picking three wickets at 5.60 runs per over.
Deepti Sharma, who picked two scalps at an economy of under 6, leapfrogged Jess Jonassen to fifth place in the bowlers’ rankings.
In the all-rounders’ rankings, Ashleigh Gardner breached into the top 10 list. She was underwhelming with the bat, scoring only two runs from two innings but was Australia’s top wicket-taker with four scalps. Ellyse Perry had a forgettable series, managing only 10 runs with zero wickets with the ball and dropped down to number 7 as a result.
