Cricket: Sri Lanka toppled from T20 No.1 spot after New Zealand series whitewash

After Sri Lanka’s 2-0 series defeat against New Zealand, the Islanders lost their top position in ICC Twenty20 global rankings, conceding the position to West Indies by a slight margin. 

This is the first occasion Sri Lanka was toppled from the No.1 rank since 2014, soon after they won the ICC World T20 Championship that year.

West Indies sits on top with 118.36 rating points, while Sri Lanka is second followed by Australia with 118 rating points each. 

England are at fourth with 117 rating points followed by South Africa who has 115 rating points in their tally. 

New Zealand, who had two back-to-back wins against Sri Lanka to seal the series, follows at sixth position with 114 rating points.

Sri Lanka were defeated by New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday (10) after having lost the first game in Mount Maunganui last Thursday (7). 

West Indies have played eight matches since the end of the World T20 in April 2014 and won four while Sri Lanka have lost five of their last six games.

Prior to the series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka had a seven-point lead but after two heavy defeats against New Zealand they lost the top position and are further at risk of being pushed down if they continue the current dismal form. 

The top ten teams in T20Is

1: West Indies (118 rating points)

2: Sri Lanka (118 rating points)

3: Australia (118 rating points)

4: England (117 rating points)

5: South Africa (115 rating points)

6: New Zealand (114 rating points)

7: Pakistan (114 rating points)

8: India (110 rating points)

9: Afghanistan (80 rating points)

10: Bangladesh (69 rating points)