Cricket

Sadia Iqbal's brief reign as the top-ranked ICC women's T20I bowler was a historic moment for Pakistan cricket. However, Sophie Ecclestone quickly reclaimed the top spot, highlighting the intense competition at the pinnacle of the sport.Iqbal's rise to the top was fueled by her impressive performance in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup. She equaled Ecclestone's ranking after taking three wickets for 17 runs against Sri Lanka in Pakistan's opening match. Ecclestone's return of 0 for 21 against South Africa allowed Iqbal to briefly overtake her.However, Iqbal's subsequent performance against India (1 for 23) and Ecclestone's Player-of-the-Match winning 2 for 15 against South Africa saw the English spinner regain her top ranking. The gap between the two remains narrow (762 points for Ecclestone, 754 for Iqbal), indicating the possibility of further changes in the rankings.Iqbal's success is a testament to her exceptional skills as a left-arm spinner. She has taken the most wickets (28) in T20Is in 2024 among all players participating in the World Cup. Sana Mir, the former Pakistan captain, is the only other Pakistani woman to top an ICC player table, having been the top-ranked ODI bowler in 2018-19.Beyond the top two, several other players have made notable movements in the rankings. Suzie Bates' 27 runs against India lifted her to seventh place among batters, while Harmanpreet Kaur's performances against New Zealand and Pakistan saw her rise to 12th. Danni Wyatt-Hodge's impressive scores against Bangladesh and South Africa helped her climb to joint 18th.Among bowlers, Megan Schutt's 3 for 12 against Sri Lanka propelled her into the top ten at No. 10. Sarah Glenn moved up to third, behind Ecclestone and Iqbal, while Ash Gardner and Rabeya Khan also made significant gains. Nonkululeko Mlaba's impressive performances for South Africa saw her rise nine spots to 13th.The ongoing Women's T20 World Cup has showcased the depth of talent in women's cricket. The competition for rankings positions remains fierce, with players from various nations vying for supremacy. As the tournament progresses, further changes in the rankings are likely, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the sport.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team secured a historic victory over West Indies in the first T20I of the three-match series, marking their first triumph over the Caribbean side in this format since 2015.The foundation for Sri Lanka's success was laid by the exceptional bowling performances of Chamari Athapaththu and Inoshi Priyadharshani. Athapaththu, who registered a career-best 4 for 29, and Priyadharshani, who claimed 3 for 28, combined to restrict West Indies to a modest total of 134 for 8.In response, Sri Lanka's batters displayed resilience and determination. Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama forged a crucial 46-run partnership for the second wicket, with Gunaratne contributing a brisk 35. Samarawickrama continued to anchor the innings, scoring 35 before being dismissed.Despite losing wickets in quick succession, Sri Lanka remained composed. Nilakshika Silva played a crucial role in guiding the team to victory, remaining unbeaten on 17.West Indies' batting effort was hampered by an injury to Stafanie Taylor, who was forced to leave the field in the third over. Hayley Matthews top-scored for the visitors with a run-a-ball 30, while Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher provided some late impetus with a 33-run partnership.The victory gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the series, which continues with the second T20I on Saturday.

India's women's cricket team has made significant strides in the latest ICC Women's T20I rankings, reflecting their impressive performance in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed three places to 13th in the batters' list, while Richa Ghosh has moved up two spots to 23rd.Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has also made a notable jump, rising seven places to 23rd in the bowlers' rankings. Titas Sadhu has also improved her position, moving up 18 spots to 60th. These rankings come just months before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where India will be hoping to make a strong impact.England's players have also made progress in the rankings. Heather Knight has risen four places to 18th in the batters' list, while Amy Jones has moved up three places to 26th. All-rounder Sarah Glenn has climbed two spots to fourth in the bowlers' rankings, behind teammate Sophie Ecclestone.Sri Lanka's players have also been rewarded for their success in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier event. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who was the leading run-scorer at the tournament, has risen two places to equal seventh on the batters' list. She has also moved up one place to fifth in the all-rounders' rankings.Inoshi Fernando and Udeshika Prabodhani have also made gains in the bowlers' rankings, moving up five spots each to 19th and 30th respectively. These rankings reflect the growing strength of women's cricket around the world, with players from various nations making their mark on the international stage.