After taking seven wickets in the final two games of their three-ODI series against New Zealand, which the home team won 2-1, Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana has secured a career-best third place in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings.
After finishing with four for 44 in the second Hamilton match, which New Zealand won by 113 runs, and three for 35 in the third Auckland match, which Sri Lanka won by 140 runs, Theekshana was promoted to the fourth position. Notably, the spinner became the eighth bowler from Sri Lanka to accomplish the record in the 50-over format when he claimed a hat-trick in the Hamilton match.
In a pack of four at the top who are all within seven points of one another, Maheesh Theekshana 663 rating points are only six points down than top-ranked Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan (669).
With 665 points, Indian Kuldeep Yadav is in second place, and Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan comes in third with 662 points.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has risen two spots to 15th place with three wickets in the previous two games, while New Zealand seam bowler Matt Henry, who won Player of the Series for taking nine wickets in the series, is back in the top 10.
Fast bowler Asitha Fernando of Sri Lanka has risen into the top 100 thanks to his Player of the Match performance of three for 26 in the final game.
After hitting 79 in the second match, New Zealand left-hander Rachin Ravindra moved up 11 spots to 39th in the Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, while Janith Liyanage moved up 11 spots to 57th after scoring a half-century in the final match. With scores of 62 and 81, Mark Chapman of New Zealand enters the top 100.
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