Meg Lanning played a brilliant knock of 135 to ace Australia’s 272 run chase against South Africa to keep her side unbeaten in the ICC Women’s World Cup.
The Captain took the reins after an inauspicious start for her side and remained unbeaten to see her side through by 5 wickets with 28 balls to spare.
The Aussies were truly tested for the first time in this tournament with Laura Wolvaardt’s 90 helping her side set a decent total of 271/5 batting first.
The right handed batter continued her rich run of form with a stylish innings which included an 88 run opening act with Lizelle Lee (36) while skipper Sune Luus (52 runs) notched another half-century of her own to help pace the Proteas during the middle overs.
Marizanne Kapp got a few away late to help boost South Africa’s total, finishing with 30 not-out.
Opener Alyssa Healy (1) was out in the third over and Rachael Haynes (17) followed her back to the pavilion in the 11th over to leave Australia in a spot of bother at 45/2
Meg Lanning, however, took control of the run chase as soon as she came to the crease, finishing unbeaten on 135 from just 130 balls to record her third World Cup ton and 15th overall.
The win was Australia’s 18th consecutive victory while chasing overtaking Indian men’s cricket team.
The victory takes Australia clear at the top of the tournament standings and they look certain to finish in that position when the knockout stages commence next week. While South Africa remain second in the standings, the loss does leave them in danger of missing out on the semi-finals should they not win any of their final two matches against West Indies and India.
India, meanwhile, brushed aside Bangladesh in the days other game by 110 runs to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament.
