Rankings boost buoys beaten South Africa

Dubai: South Africa, who lost the first Test to Pakistan by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi last week, are hoping to bounce back by drawing inspiration from the significant strides their top players have achieved in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Reliance Test ranking.

Hashim Amla, who cracked a century in the first innings of the first Test, has further strengthened his position as the No 1-ranked batsman, while AB De Villiers, who scored a fighting 90 in the second innings, has achieved his career-best position by clinching the second position, replacing West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Amla and De Villiers also occupy the top two positions in the one-day international standings.

Vernon Philander’s match haul of five wickets steered him to 21st in the bowling list and the third South African after Shaun Pollock (909) and Dale Steyn (908) to reach the 900-point mark. He is second in the team’s bowling rankings behind Steyn.