SA vs Eng – 3rd T20I
Dawid Malan achieved the highest-ever points in the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen, getting to 915 at the end of the T20I series in South Africa. In the process, he also became the first batsman to cross the 900-point mark since Aaron Finch got there in July 2018, his 173 runs at a strike rate of 161.68 helping England to a 3-0 series sweep in South Africa. Malan finished the series 44 points ahead of second-placed Babar Azam.
Malan had scores of 19, 55 and 99* in the three-match series, which took England past Australia to the No. 1 position in the T20I team rankings. India, Pakistan and South Africa make up the top five. New Zealand are in sixth place after their 2-0 win over West Indies, who have slipped to tenth.
Among other players in action in South Africa, Buttler gained seven spots to get to No. 21 among batsmen, while Rassie van der Dussen‘s 136 runs lifted him 17 places to No. 5, a career-best. Faf du Plessis’s 121 runs also helped him get into the top 20.
Of the bowlers, Adil Rashid gained three spots to get to No. 4, while Chris Jordan gained one place to get to No. 12.
Across in New Zealand, the home side won the first two games before the third was washed out, and Lockie Ferguson, the best bowler across the two sides with seven wickets, including 5 for 21 in the first game, moved up 42 spots to the 32nd position. Glenn Phillips, who smashed the quickest T20I century by a New Zealander in the second fixture, got into the top 100 for the first time, moving to No. 86.