CLASSY LANNING CLOSES IN ON RUNS MILESTONE
IF Meg Lanning gets off the mark in Australia’s World Cup semi-final against India tonight, she will reach 3000 one-day runs in her 63rd match.
Her total includes 11 centuries and as many 50s.
Lanning will be the second-fastest cricketer to reach the mark behind South Africa’s Hashim Amla and has done it in just 6½ years.
The World Cup is the only title Lanning, 25, hasn’t captured as national skipper. She passed 5000 international runs with her 76 not out against India a week ago and has been making big scores with apparent ease while nursing a shoulder injury that has reduced her to throwing underarm.
Former Australia captain Lyn Larsen, who at 23 was Australia’s youngest skipper before then 22-year-old Lanning usurped her, has seen the world’s best batter play live for the first time at the World Cup.
“The innings she played the other day against Sri Lanka (152 not out) ... that composure and that steely face and determination – you can see why she’s No.1 already,” Larsen said.
“She probably will over time be head and shoulders above anything we’ve seen ... it’s hard to rank one (player), but truly she is just class. You can’t put any other word on her other than just class.”
Lanning will take her place in the side for tonight’s semi-final, giving a tough team an even tougher edge.
England await in the final at Lord’s on Sunday. India stand in Australia’s way, but Lanning more than likely has the situation under control.