DUBAI: Sana Mir, the veteran Pakistan bowler, topped the wicket-takers’ chart even as Pakistan went down 3-0 to Australia in their ICC Women’s Championship series, reported ICC.
The series sweep was a good one for Australia, who extended their lead over New Zealand at the top of the table, while losses outnumbered wins for Pakistan, who are now down at No.6, just above South Africa and Sri Lanka on the table.
But Mir, the 32-year-old former captain, had a good time out in Kuala Lumpur with her off-spin, returning 3/26, 1/37 and 3/53 to end at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for bowlers with a career-high 663 points.
That lifted her three spots on the table, as she went past Marizanne Kapp of South Africa and Australia’s Megan Schutt as well as the out-of-action Jess Jonassen of Australia, who slipped from No.1 to No.4.
“This is a team effort of support staff and players who have helped me excel,” Mir said on Twitter. “I would also like to thank ICC for providing us regular opportunities to play with the big teams through ICC women Championship and to coach Mark Coles, who chose to look at my skill rather than my age.
Ashleigh Gardner, the Australia off-spinner, also had a great time of it, with the ball of course, but also with the bat.
She made the difference in the final game, where Alyssa Healy’s 97 was the top score for Australia, but Gardner’s 37-ball 62* from No.7 and then 3/44 was the real match-winning effort.
