Lanning rises to No. 2 among batters; Matthews makes big gains
Nat Sciver, whose 109 off 85 balls went in vain for England against Australia, moved up to No. 6 among batters
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Mar-2022
Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning have both risen in the batting rankings • Getty Images
Australia captain Meg Lanning has climbed two spots to be ranked No. 2 among ODI batters. She is currently just 15 points behind the leader, team-mate Alyssa Healy. Lanning hit 86 in Australia's World Cup opener against England on Saturday, as they opened their campaign with a close 12-run win against the defending champions.
Rachael Haynes, whose 130 at the top was instrumental in Australia posting 310, has broken into the top ten. She is at No. 7 after gaining six places in the chart. The opener, who was also the Player of the Match, added 196 with Lanning for the second wicket in that match. Haynes' knock came off just 131 deliveries, and included 14 fours and a six.
England's Nat Sciver, who cracked an unbeaten 109 from just 85 balls in a losing cause, also made strides among batters. Sciver jumped five spots to get to No. 6, as her quick knock kept England is sight of the target for the longest time.
Meanwhile, West Indies' Hayley Matthews moved up in all three rankings tables after her all-round contribution helped her team pip hosts New Zealand in an opening-day thriller in the tournament. Matthews hit 119 in West Indies' total of 259, with the next highest score being 36, as her innings came off 128 deliveries, and featured 16 fours and a six.
And in the New Zealand run chase, she dismissed the in-form Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in an economical spell of 2 for 41 from ten overs.