Windies leapfrog Bangladesh, Gayle moves up three spots

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

West Indies have returned to number eight in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day international team rankings, following their historic crushing of Bangladesh last Friday.

The Caribbean side entered the Cricket World Cup ninth after losing a three-match series to Sri Lanka and being overtaken by the Bangladeshis.

West Indies, however, crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets in their third game of the World Cup, after sending the Asian side tumbling for a record low 58 all out before a partisan crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

They now have 68 points, three ahead of Bangladesh.

The Windies are on course for a quarter-final spot after racking up two wins in their three outings in Group B of the showpiece.

They will face Ireland in their next match on Friday in Mohali as they go in search of their third win.

Stunning victory

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Ireland have both gained a place in the standings. Sri Lanka have jumped ahead of South Africa into third following the Proteas' loss to England on Sunday, while Ireland have moved into 10th position after their stunning victory over England in Bengaluru last Wednesday.

Australia remain on top the standings with 131 points, with India in second on 119.

Meanwhile, talismanic West Indies opener, Chris Gayle, has picked up three places in the latest ICCODI batting rankings released yesterday.

The big-hitting left-hander, who has had a relatively productive World Cup campaign, is now 12th in the rankings, which continue to be led by prolific South Africa opener Hashim Amla.

Gayle has scores of two, 80 and 37 not out in his three innings so far, which have helped lead West Indies to two wins in three matches in Group B.

Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul has had no such success and has tumbled two places to 20th in the rankings, after managing just 31 and four in his two World Cup innings to date.

England's Jonathan Trott, meanwhile, stormed into the top 20 by jumping nine places to be tied 13th with India's Gautam Gambhir. The diligent right-hander has scored heavily in the World Cup, already gathering 222 runs to be the fourth highest run-getter.

ICC Rankings

1 Australia 131

2 India 119

3 Sri Lanka 117

4 South Africa 116

5 England 108

6 Pakistan 103

7 New Zealand 91

8 West Indies 68

9 Bangladesh 65

10 Ireland 43

11 Zimbabwe 37

12 Netherlands 13

13 Kenya 0