South Africa’s Brits, West Indies’ Matthews Star in ICC Rankings Update

South Africa’s Tazmin Brits has achieved her highest-ever positions in both the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI Batting Rankings, following an impressive performance after a recent tour of the West Indies.

The 34-year-old opener climbed to sixth place in the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings, equaling her career-best position last attained in January 2023. She also reached a personal best 21st spot in the ODI Batting Rankings after the ICC’s latest weekly update.

Brits was a standout performer in the T20I series, amassing 132 runs across three matches. Her most notable contribution came in the series opener, where she delivered a commanding unbeaten 98 off just 63 balls, guiding her team to victory. Reflecting on her success, Brits said, "It’s been a rewarding tour for me, and I’m grateful to contribute to the team’s wins."

In the preceding ODI series, Brits further strengthened her position by scoring a match-winning century (101 runs) in the decisive final game, securing a 2-1 series win for South Africa.

Her teammate Annerie Dercksen also made strides, advancing from 87th to 79th in the T20I batting standings. At the same time, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba moved up six spots to share eighth place in the bowling rankings after claiming three wickets in the series.

On the West Indies side, captain Hayley Matthews achieved a career-high 770 rating points in the T20I Batting Rankings, closing in on Australia’s Beth Mooney, who leads with 794 points. Matthews was named Player of the Series after scoring 147 runs and taking two wickets. "I’m happy with my performance, but there’s always more to work on," she said.

Other notable movers include Chinelle Henry, who rose to 86th in the T20I batting list, and Afy Fletcher, who climbed to 12th in the bowling rankings after taking five wickets.