Sri Lanka cricketers soar in ICC rankings ahead of Women's T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team has received a significant boost just weeks before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, as several of their key players achieved career-best rankings in the latest ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings.

This rise in rankings comes after Sri Lanka's dominant performance in the third ODI against Ireland, where they secured a convincing eight-wicket victory in Belfast. The star of the match was their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, who showcased her all-round abilities with a solid 48 runs and a three-wicket haul. This outstanding performance has helped Athapaththu improve her standing in all three ranking categories. She gained six rating points to retain her fourth position in the ODI batting rankings, closing the gap on the top-ranked Nat Sciver-Brunt. 

Additionally, Harshitha Samarawickrama moved up 15 places to reach 29th on the ODI batting rankings after an unbeaten 48 against Ireland, marking her career-best position. Veteran bowler Achini Kulasuriya also achieved a career-high rating, climbing eight spots to 36th in the ODI bowling rankings after taking three wickets in the same match.

Athapaththu herself moved up eight places to 51st in the ODI bowling rankings, while teammates Inoshi Fernando and Sachini Nisansala made significant progress, both moving into the top 100 after strong performances on the Ireland tour. In the all-rounder rankings, Athapaththu rose two places to seventh, and Kavisha Dilhari advanced one spot to 16th.

Despite losing the final match to Sri Lanka, Ireland did manage to win the series 2-1. Arlene Kelly, who was named Player of the Series, made notable contributions with 49 runs and five wickets across the three matches. Her efforts earned her a rise of 12 places in the ODI batting rankings, placing her 86th overall.

These ranking improvements come at a crucial time for Sri Lanka as they prepare for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, providing them with much-needed confidence and momentum heading into the tournament.