ICC T20I Rankings: India Retains Fifth Position, New Zealand Drops To Second
Nov 8, 2017 at 9:15 AM
New Zealand have slipped to second in the latest T20 International rankings released by the International Cricket Council after the Kiwis suffered a 6-run defeat against India in the third and final game in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (November 7).
As a result, Pakistan have moved to the top of the rankings with 124 while New Zealand, who had 125 points before the start of the series, have now slipped to 120 points. The Men in Green had briefly attained the top rank midway during the series between India and New Zealand. Sarfraz Ahmed & Co. had toppled New Zealand after India’s crushing 53-run win in the first game in Delhi against the then world number one side but the Kiwis managed to regain their rank after winning the following game.
On the other hand, India have retained their fifth position in the rankings with 119 points.
T20I Rankings:
Team | Points |
Pakistan | 124 |
New Zealand | 120 |
West Indies | 120 |
England | 119 |
India | 119 |
South Africa | 112 |
Australia | 111 |
Sri Lanka | 91 |
Afghanistan | 86 |
Bangladesh | 76 |
India beat New Zealand in a rain-curtailed tie to seal series:
While the margin of defeat which is 6 runs will show that it was a close game but it was not really so.
After being asked to bat first in the game which was reduced to 8 overs per side due to the rain delay, India were off to a disastrous start with both of their openers- Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma being sent back on successive deliveries by Tim Southee in the second over. Virat Kohli then played a couple of good shots to provide the much-needed impetus before Manish Pandey and Hardik Pandya helped the hosts to post a challenging 67 for 5 in the allotted 8 overs.
In reply, New Zealand were pretty much out of contention when they lost both of their openers inside the first two overs. The following batsmen could not play the big shots as they finished on 61 for 6.
Video of the day: