Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan players topped in run scorers and wicket takers lists in the recently concluded ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 held in Colombo.

Pakistan’s Javeria Khan topped the list of run-getters in the tournament with 299 runs, while India’s left-handed opener and player of the final, Deepti Sharma was second with 253 runs.

Pakistan leg-spinner NashraSandhu topped the bowlers’ list with 17 wickets, while India’s left-arm spinner EktaBisht (13) and South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk finished with 13 wickets each in the tournament, played mostly on spin-friendly surfaces.

India and South Africa ranked fourth and sixth respectively, on the ICC Women’s Rankings, ensured places in the ICC Women’s World Cup and the ICC Women’s Championship even before the last round of the Super Six stage, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan were the other teams to advance.

These four teams now join Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies, who had already booked places in the pinnacle event to be held in England and Wales from June 24 to July 23 by finishing in the top four of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Bangladesh and Ireland retained their ODI status for the next four-year cycle and had their moments and performances too while the tournament provided good exposure to the remaining four teams, which do not enjoy ODI status – Zimbabwe, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.