Proteas reclaim No. 1 ODI ranking after five years

South Africa has reclaimed the number-one spot on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings after winning the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

South Africa had entered the three-match ODI series trailing Australia by one ratings point, and moved to the top of the table following their 72-run victory in the second ODI in Mount Maunganui on Friday.

Although the third and final ODI of the series in Hamilton on Monday was washed-out, the results in Mount Maunganui were enough to ensure that South Africa finishes the series on top of the tree.

This is the first time in five years that South Africa has surged to the top of the ODI team table. The team last enjoyed the number-one position in September 2009, before losing the status to Australia following its first round elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

Following the series win, South African batsmen A.B. de Villiers and Hashim Amla have occupied the top two positions in the Reliance ICC ODI Player Rankings. De Villiers has retained the top spot, while teammate Amla has closed the gap to 28 ratings points.

However, India's Virat Kohli, who has slipped to third following Amla's movement, would have a chance to move up the order when his side faces Sri Lanka in the ODI series, which starts on 2 November. Only two ratings points separate the second and third ranked batsmen.