Alyssa Healy’s dazzling 142 against India Women in Visakhapatnam during the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup was another reminder of her rare ability to turn pressure into poetry. Coming in with Australia facing a stiff chase, Healy crafted an innings that blended aggression, elegance, and nerve. Her 21 boundaries and three sixes painted every corner of the ground, dismantling the Indian attack and keeping Australia in the hunt till the very end. It was one of those knocks where every stroke carried intent, every partnership seemed possible, and every run spoke of belief.
Though it stood among the highest second-innings scores in World Cup history, the archives tell us that a few others have gone even further, performances that pushed the boundaries of courage and class. Here are the top five highest individual scores in Women’s World Cup history while chasing that still sit above Healy’s heroic effort, each an unforgettable chapter in the game’s story of great chases.
1. Meg Lanning – 152* vs Sri Lanka (Bristol, June 29, 2017)
Meg Lanning’s unbeaten 152 at Bristol during the 2017 Women’s World Cup remains the gold standard for second-innings batting. Chasing 258 against Sri Lanka, Lanning, coming in at number 3, turned what looked like a challenging total into a stroll in the park. Her knock was a perfect exhibition of timing, temperament, and tactical brilliance. She began with measured control, reading the bowlers with ease before unleashing her trademark drives and cuts that split the field with surgical precision. With 19 fours and a six, she guided Australia to an emphatic eight-wicket win, never once appearing rushed or rattled. What stood out most was her mastery of switching through different gears, a quality that made her both the anchor and aggressor. It was an innings that not only sealed victory but also reinforced Lanning’s reputation as one of the finest chasers’ women’s cricket has ever seen. Elegant, ruthless, and composed, it remains a blueprint for batting under pressure.
2. Nat Sciver-Brunt – 148* vs Australia (Christchurch, April 3, 2022)
When England took on Australia in the 2022 World Cup final, few could have imagined the spectacle that Nat Sciver-Brunt would produce. Facing a mountain-like target of 357, Sciver-Brunt stood tall amidst chaos, crafting one of the most memorable innings ever played in a losing cause. Her unbeaten 148 off 121 balls, studded with 15 boundaries and a six, was a masterclass in composure. While wickets fell steadily at the other end, Sciver-Brunt never lost her calm or clarity. She picked her moments, played with impeccable placement, and found ways to pierce the gaps with ease. Though England ultimately fell short, her innings gave the match its soul, a display of defiance and grace on the sport’s biggest stage. It was less about the result and more about the resolve, proving that true greatness lies not only in victory but in the fight itself.
3. Alyssa Healy – 142 vs India (Visakhapatnam, October 12, 2025)
Healy’s 142 against India wasn’t just a knock; it was an experience. The humid evening in Visakhapatnam saw her bat with fearless rhythm, dismantling India’s varied attack with a mix of precision and power. Every boundary came with intent, every shot echoed confidence. Her innings were built on controlled aggression, shifting effortlessly between classical stroke play and bold innovation. At one point, as she raced past her century, it felt as though Healy was batting on a different surface altogether. Despite wickets tumbling around her, she kept Australia alive and ahead of the required rate. It was a performance that proved to be decisive and eventually titled the result in Australia’s favour. The scintillating knock elevated the match to an instant classic. For Healy, it was another statement, that on her day, there are few batters in world cricket capable of matching her intensity and influence.
4. Meg Lanning – 135* vs South Africa (Wellington, March 22, 2022)
Pressure defines champions, and Meg Lanning’s unbeaten 135 in the 2022 World Cup group stage fixture against South Africa was the perfect example. Chasing 272 in a high-stakes game, she delivered a masterclass in control and calculation. Early on, she absorbed the pressure, leaving balls outside off and working singles to settle into rhythm. Then, as the innings unfolded, she began to take charge, piercing gaps and finding boundaries at will. With 15 fours and a six, she anchored Australia’s five-wicket victory with the calm of a veteran and the confidence of a captain who knew exactly how to finish the job. Lanning’s ability to stay unflustered, even when the game tightened, showed why she is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in the women’s game. It was an innings of authority, composure, and championship pedigree.
5. Meg Lanning – 112 vs New Zealand (Cuttack, February 5, 2013)
A young Meg Lanning announced herself to the world with this composed 112 in Cuttack during the 2013 Women’s World Cup. At just 20 years old, she displayed the maturity of a seasoned professional while guiding Australia’s chase of 228 against New Zealand. Her 104-ball effort, filled with 17 boundaries, and a maximum was a picture of patience and precision. Lanning took her time early on, reading the conditions and adjusting her tempo as the innings progressed. Once she got going, there was no stopping her; the placement, timing, and effortless elegance were all on display. The chase was completed with seven wickets in hand, and Lanning’s serene knock stood as the centrepiece. It marked the rise of a player who would go on to dominate world cricket for the next decade, calm, clinical, and utterly consistent.
Alyssa Healy’s 142 will undoubtedly be remembered as a performance of fire and finesse, a testament to her never-say-die spirit. Yet, as these innings show, the Women’s World Cup has been graced by several batting masterclasses that set the standard for second-innings brilliance. From Lanning’s tactical perfection to Sciver-Brunt’s fearless defiance, each of these knocks tells a story of determination and excellence, proof that the art of chasing runs is also, at its core, and equally vital blending with courage under pressure.
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