Meg Lanning delivered another masterclass, hitting an unbeaten 135 as six-time champions Australia continued their unbeatable run with a five-wicket smash against South Africa in Tuesday’s ICC Women’s World Cup.
WCC: Lanning’s 135 leads Australia to five-wicket victory over South Africa (ICC Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Australia beat South Africa by five wickets at the 2022 Women’s World Cup
- Meg Lanning scored her 15th ODI century
- Australia has already reached the semifinals
Captain Meg Lanning hit a century from 92 balls as Australia beat South Africa by five wickets on Tuesday, in another eye-popping performance at the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Lanning scored her 15th ODI century with 15 hits to the fence and a maximum during her 130-ball unbeaten innings to help Australia successfully chase South Africa’s 271-for-5 28-ball total at the Basin Reserve.
She was overwhelmingly the driving force behind Australia’s running hunt with their 15th one-day international century.
“We talk a lot about the top four trying to come through and make those match-winning innings,” Lanning said. “Today it was me. Another day it will be someone else and it was just nice to be there at the end.”
Australia went into the game top of the tournament rankings and had already qualified for the semi-finals with five wins from five games, while South Africa were on the verge of a place in the semi-finals with four unbeaten wins.
An unbeaten 135* from Australia's skipper!Meg Lanning’s Player of the Game performance #CWC22 https://t.co/kJMEIijkdsG
— ICC (@ICC) March 22, 2022
Australia have made themselves even stronger favorites to win their seventh title after an impressive win over their nearest rivals.
Australia demonstrated their strength again as star all-rounder Ellyse Perry bowled just three overs and missed batting due to injury but coped due to the extent of her batting and bowling resources.
Lanning was inevitably the player of the match, as she was for her 97 in Australia’s previous game against India. She was nearly unstoppable, although there was a time later in her innings when South African pace bowler Shabnin Ismail tested her with quick and short deliveries right on or off the stump. During this time, Lanning had to rein in her attacking instincts before increasing her speed on goal again.
