ICC Women World Cup 2022: It’s been a very challenging tournament for us – Meg Lanning

Australia Women captain Meg Lanning reckons the ongoing ICC Women World Cup 2022 has been a very challenging tournament for them as their batting unit has been put to test by the opposition bowling attacks. Australia, the six-time champions, cruised to a convincing five-wicket win against South Africa in the 21st match of the ODI showpiece at the Basin Reserve, Wellington on Tuesday, which ended Proteas’ unbeaten run in the tournament.

South Africa posted a par score of 271 runs in their 50 overs after Lanning won the toss and decided to bowl first. Laura Wolvaardt scored 90 runs for South Africa whereas Sune Luus scored a quickfire fifty. However, the total wasn’t enough as Meg Lanning scored her 15th ODI century to take her team to their sixth win of the World Cup, thus securing their semifinal berth.

“It’s been a very challenging tournament so far,” Lanning said after scoring a century that handed South Africa their first defeat of the tournament. “Teams are coming hard at us when we’re batting, (they’re) trying to take some early wickets and put us under pressure. They’ve been able to do that at times. We’ve been able to bat our way through that and post decent scores. That has been a really important part of our team – to make sure if it’s not a couple people’s day at the top of the order, that we’ve still got enough firepower there. The batters have had to work really hard. It’s not easy out there with the new ball. You’ve got to get through that period. You can cash in at the back end but you’ve got to be there to be able to do that.”

Lanning’s knock of unbeaten 135 runs off just 130 balls was laced with 15 fours and one six. But Australia was in a spot of bother at 45-2 however their skipper was able to bail them out of the woods. Lanning was happy to contribute to the team’s success after she was awarded the Player of the Match.

She added in the post-match presentation, “It was nice to contribute. We speak of the top four batting through and playing those match-winning innings. I thought Kapp and Ismail bowled really well. I felt I left more balls than I ever have. It was important. Ismail was bowling quick and didn’t bowl any bad balls in that period that swung the game towards SA. I thought I wasn’t as clinical in the earlier games. I had my plans clear and hopefully, it would continue. I knew I had to be the one to bat through today. Mooney and Tahila took the pressure off me as well. Number three is a crucial position to impact the game.”

Australia Women will face Bangladesh at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Friday.