Athapaththu, Harmanpreet rise in Women's ODI Player Rankings

Dubai, July 12 (IANS) A host of Sri Lanka and India players including captains Chamari Athapaththu and Harmanpreet Kaur rose up in the latest ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings, released on Tuesday, following the completion of their three-match one-day series in Pallekele.

While India registered a 3-0 series sweep during the dominant 50-over series, it was Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu, who made the biggest impression on the top 10 list for batters.

Athapaththu scored a quick-fire 44 in the final match of the series last week and that saw the talented 32-year-old rise two spots to a career-best-equaling eighth position, which she had first attained after an epic 178 off 143 balls against Australia in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in Bristol five years ago.

On the other hand, India captain Harmanpreet moved up one place to 13th following her Player of the Match effort of 75 helping her gain 12 rating points. Kaur, who finished with 119 runs and three wickets in India's 3-0 win and was named Player of the series, has also moved up eight slots to 71st among bowlers and four spots to 20th among all-rounders.

Other India batters to move up in the rankings include opener Shafali Verma (up three places to 33rd), Yastika Bhatia (up one place to 45th) and Pooja Vastrakar (up eight places to 53rd).

In the rankings for bowlers, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is up three places to joint-ninth after grabbing three for 36 while Meghna Singh (up four places to 43rd) and Vastrakar (up two places to joint-48th) have also advanced.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama has moved up one place to 43rd among batters and Nilakshi de Silva has surged 10 places to 47th. Spinner Inoka Ranaweers continues her ascent in the bowling list, up five places to 16th with a haul of two for 22.

According to ICC, the latest weekly rankings update also takes into account performances in the first match of South Africa's ODI series in England.

South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon has moved up 12 places to 22nd after scoring 88 runs in the match and Nadine de Klerk is up two places to 60th among bowlers.

England's Emma Lamb, who was named Player of the Match for her innings of 102, has progressed 76 places to 101st after just her third ODI while fast bowler Katherine Brunt is up three places to joint-ninth after taking three for 18. Spinner Charlie Dean has moved up to 31st position.