Bell, Mandhana headline ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings

England fast bowler Lauren Bell and India’s stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana have registered huge gains in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after stellar performances in the opening match of their five-match series in Nottingham.

Bell has moved up two slots to reach a career-best fourth position among bowlers after taking three wickets while Mandhana, who smashed an electrifying 62-ball 112 to set up an emphatic 97-run victory for the visiting Indian team, has risen one slot to third place and a career-best 771 ratings points.

Mandhana slammed 15 fours and three sixes in her career-best effort to set up a massive total of 210 for 5, which proved far beyond England’s reach eventually as the hosts suffered their heaviest T20I defeat, losing by 97 runs after being folded for 113 in 14.5 overs.

Apart from Mandhana’s marauding knock, India had to thank left-arm spinner, Shree Charani, who took four wickets on debut to enter the rankings in 450th position. Charani conceded only 12 runs in 3.5 overs and her scalps included skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone and Bell.

Meanwhile, Mandhana’s opening partner Shafali Verma has moved up one slot to 13th position after scoring 20 off 22 with three fours. Harleen Deol has re-entered the rankings in 86th position on the back of a 43 off 23 balls.

England captain Sciver-Brunt is another one to gain in the latest weekly update after top-scoring for her team with 66 off 42 deliveries. She has gained 20 rating points to reach a career-best aggregate of 663 while retaining ninth position.

Click here for full ICC women's rankings

England and India will meet in the second T20I of the three-match series at the County Ground in Bristol on July 1, followed by the third and fourth at the Kennington Oval in London on July 4 and the Old Trafford in Manchester on July 9. The fifth and final game will be played at Edbaston in Birmingham on July 12. The T20I series will be followed by three ODIs in Southampton, London and Chester-le-Street on July 16, 19 and 22.