Lizelle Lee becomes top-ranked ODI batter after strong run against India

Lizelle Lee, the South Africa opening batter, has had a stellar run in the ongoing ODI series against India, and that has led to a steep rise in the women's ODI rankings, where she is now the top batter, relegating England's Tammy Beaumont to No. 2. Last week, after scoring 83* in the series opener, Lee had moved up from No. 11 to eighth, and since then, a run of 4, 132* and 69 has seen her zoom through even as South Africa have taken a winning 3-1 lead in the series.

Lee, the only South African ever to top that table, had earlier been the best in the world in June 2018 after scoring 92* and 117 against England, though South Africa had lost that series 2-1.

Though India have fallen short in three of the matches, their top-order batter Punam Raut has had a very good run, totalling 253 runs from four innings so far compared to Lee's 288. Like Lee, she has also scored two half-centuries and a century, and that has led to a rise of eight spots to 18th. She is fourth-best Indian in the list after Smriti Mandhana (seventh), Mithali Raj (ninth) and Harmanpreet Kaur (15th).

Among the other premier performers in the four matches so far in Lucknow, South Africa's Lara Goodall (49 and 59* in the second and fourth games) has gained 27 places to reach the 48th position.

Chasing teams have won all four games so far - South Africa won the third game on the DLS method while chasing - and that has been because of some impressive bowling performances, especially in the morning. Jhulan Goswami, with eight wickets in three games, is top of that chart, with Shabnim Ismail one behind after four games, followed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad with five wickets.

That has meant a rise to No. 3, behind the Australian pair of Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt for Ismail, while Goswami has held on to her fifth place, while Gayakwad has gained four slots to No. 18.

The final game of the series will be played on Wednesday.