23 Feb 2012

England leapfrog Pakistan in ODI Championship table

12:50 am on 23 February 2012

England went some way to avenging their 3-0 defeat in the Test series by clean sweeping Pakistan 4-0 in the one-day series, climbing above the hosts to fifth place in the ICC ODI rankings in the process.

It's also the first time since 1988 that England has won all the matches of a one-day series against Pakistan.

India is still ranked above South Africa in second place, with Sri Lanka fourth.

Australia, which has three wins from five matches in the tri-tournament against India and Sri Lanka, entered the series in number one position and still has a commanding lead at the top.

Michael Clarke's side is now clear favourite to finish at the top of the tree on the April the 1st cut-off date and claim the US$175,000 prize.

It will be the third successive year that Australia will finish as the number one one-day side at the cut-off date.