The latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings update reflects an intense battle at the top, with South African players making significant strides in all departments amid their commanding start to the bilateral series against Ireland.
As the Proteas host the Irish team for the first time in a historic series at home, South Africa has surged ahead in the rankings, buoyed by exceptional individual performances. After clinching the series 2-0 ahead of the third T20I set for 10th December at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, South Africa’s star performers continue to leave a strong mark on the global stage.
Bowling Rankings: Mlaba’s Rise Sparks Excitement
Spin sensation Nonkululeko Mlaba stands out in this rankings update, rewarded for her effective bowling against Ireland with three wickets at an impressive average of 11.33 across the opening two matches. The 25-year-old left-arm spinner leaps four places to sixth overall with a total of 705 rating points, closing the gap on Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, who remains the No.1 with 736 points. Mlaba’s breakthrough season continues to build momentum as she aims to usurp the current leader.
South African bowlers Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon also feature prominently after productive spells against Ireland. De Klerk climbs two spots to 45th with four wickets in two matches, while Tryon makes a notable jump of 12 places to 49th. Their collective bowling efforts have been pivotal in securing the early series win for South Africa with a game to go. Sune Luus climbed up 28 spots to the 100th position (348 points) after a four-wicket haul (4-0-22-4) in her spell with the ball for her side in the 1st T20I.
Batting Rankings: Wolvaardt’s Consistency Shines, Mooney Maintains Lead
On the batting front, Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt is steadily closing in on Australia’s Beth Mooney, who retains her top spot as the No.1 T20I batter. Wolvaardt’s commanding 115* and a quick 22 in the series so far have propelled her to fifth place overall, just 50 rating points shy of Mooney. Laura Wolvaardt registered her 2nd T20I century and the fastest T20I ton by a South African batter in the format, getting there in just 52 deliveries. Her knock included 15 boundaries and 4 maximums. She was also awarded the Player of the Match.
The rankings also welcome the return of former South African skipper Dane van Niekerk, who re-enters at 82nd place, after a couple of power-packed cameos, 21* (8 balls) and 41 (19 balls), accounting for 62 runs at a strike rate of 229.62 in a couple of innings with the bat for her side in the series so far. She is also the 3rd highest run-scorer for South Africa and currently the 4th highest run-scorer of the T20I series so far.
Ireland’s Leah Paul made significant gains as well, climbing nine places to 67th after posting reliable scores against the hosts, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the Irish batting unit. She has scored 74 runs at a strike rate of 142.30 in a couple of innings and an average of 37 with the bat. She is also the leading run-scorer for Ireland and the 3rd highest run-scorer of the series.
All-Rounder Rankings: Luus and Tryon’s Rise Reflects Proteas’ Balance
South Africa’s all-round prowess is evident with Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon making major strides in the all-rounder rankings. Luus ascends nine spots to 23rd following her valuable contributions of four wickets and 118 runs in two matches. Tryon also improves her position, climbing seven places to 12th, asserting herself as a crucial double-threat in T20 cricket. Their performances underscore South Africa’s well-rounded team strengths as they aim to dominate the format.
With the final T20I on the horizon, South African players have set a strong tone ahead of the rest of the series. Nonkululeko Mlaba’s climb up the bowling rankings hints at a reshuffle at the summit, while captain Wolvaardt’s batting show brings her closer to the coveted No.1 spot. The continued rise of South African all-rounders Luus and Tryon further bolsters the Proteas’ status as a balanced and competitive team in women’s T20I cricket.
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