Orla Prendergast, the talented all-rounder from Ireland, has shown significant improvement in the latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings. During the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal, she scored a remarkable half-century of 56 runs off 44 balls, leading Ireland to a victory over Papua New Guinea with a total score of 146/6 at Mulpani Cricket Ground. This win, by a margin of 41 runs, puts Ireland in contention for a spot in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales.
Prendergast’s outstanding performance earned her the Player of the Match award, propelling her four places up the rankings to 20th among T20I batters. Additionally, she climbed three spots to sixth place among T20I all-rounders, showcasing her prowess with the ball by conceding only 9 runs in four economical overs, which restricted Papua New Guinea’s top order from building momentum in their chase.
The recent rankings update also saw other Irish players making progress. Gaby Lewis, Prendergast’s teammate and captain, moved up two spots to 16th among T20I batters after her contribution of 42 runs against Papua New Guinea. Arlene Kelly of Ireland, who claimed two wickets in the same match, rose three places to 43rd among T20I bowlers. On the opposing side, Papua New Guinea’s Pauke Siaka advanced 13 spots to a joint 53rd position after her commendable figures of 1/14.
The Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier witnessed victories for Bangladesh, Thailand, and the Netherlands, with standout performances from key batters. Thailand’s Natthakan Chantham played a crucial role in her team’s eight-wicket win over Nepal by scoring an unbeaten 57 runs, leading to a two-place rise to joint 31st in the latest T20I batting rankings. Meanwhile, Sharmin Akhter’s impressive knock of 63 runs for Bangladesh in a 21-run win against the USA propelled her 13 places up the rankings to 57th.
