Lanning ton fires Spirit
A classy century from Meg Lanning has helped the Victoria Spirit defeat the Queensland Fire by 90 runs at Harry Trott Oval in their Women's National Cricket League clash on Saturday afternoon.
A classy century from Meg Lanning has helped the Victoria Spirit defeat the Queensland Fire by 90 runs at Harry Trott Oval in their Women's National Cricket League clash on Saturday afternoon.
Lanning was a class above with her batting as she blasted 127 from 122 balls, an innings that included 13 boundaries and a six.
Lanning and Kelly Applebee (62 from 73) added 215 runs in a blistering fifth-wicket stand that all but took the game from the Fire, after Queensland started well, claiming Victorian captain Ellyse Villani for a duck in the second over after Villani had won the toss and elected to bat.
But, while Jess Cameron (11), Sarah Elliott (six) and Emma Inglis (10) all struggled for runs, Lanning was dominating the Queensland attack down the other end, before teaming up with Applebee to blitz the Fire's bowler as Victoria made 259 from their 50 overs.
Kirsten Pike was the best of the Queensland bowler's taking 3-35 from 10 overs, which included the prize wicket of Lanning, although not without some hefty damage being done.
Although the Fire may have lost Friday's rain-affected Twenty20 clash to the Spirit under the Duckworth-Lewis system, the Queenslanders have been in good form so far this season, with opener Melissa Bulow in imperious touch.
However Victoria managed to take Bulow's wicket for 19 as the Spirit made a grand start to their innings in the field.
Indeed, the Victorians took a key wicket with just the second ball as Beth Mooney was run out for a duck before Jess Jonassen fell for four in the seventh over.
When Bulow fell to Kath Hempenstall (2-36) in the 11th over, things were looking grim for the Fire, who had only made 26 by that point.
Lyndall Daley (58), Jodie Fields (21) and Grace Harris (32) steadied the ship somewhat during the middle overs, but the poor start had left Queensland's middle and lower order with too much work to do as the Fire were ultimately dismissed for 169 in 45 overs.
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