DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC-West Indies women cricketers are closing in on fourth- ranked India after they pulled off a major upset to capture the T20 World Cup in India on Sunday.
West Indies Women who completed an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Australian Women in the final, have moved-up to 104 points, just three behind India. Australia has managed to keep its top rating, and is closely followed in second place by semi-finalist England which has dropped a point and now five points behind Australia.
New Zealand has also gone down a point and at 115 is 13 behind the leader in third. West Indies women players also rose significantly in the rankings, released by the ICC yesterday.
Player of the final Hayley Matthews was rewarded with a 26-place jump in batting rankings and a 22-place move up in the all-rounder rankings.
Matthews, who top scored in the final with 66 and was key to West Indies successful run-chase against Australia, is now within striking distance of the top 50 while her senior colleague Merissa Aguilleira has advanced to 47th position.
The bowlers too had plenty to celebrate with Anisa Mohammed, who took the crucial wicket of Meg Lanning in the final, gaining a spot to enter the top five.
Player of the tournament Stafanie Taylor, who took a total of eight wickets, three of which came in the semi-final against New Zealand, moved up five places in the bowlers’ rankings to 35th, while team-mate Shamilia Connell has also gained five places to reach 45th.
Taylor and Deandra Dottin are among five players to have retained their top-five all-rounder positions while spinner Afy Fletcher has also climbed significantly.