Lanning defies White Ferns

A match-winning unbeaten ton from Australian captain Meg Lanning stopped the White Ferns from claiming the Rose Bowl silverware for the first time this century.

Lanning, batting at number three, scored her 10th one-day international women’s cricket century in the deciding match of the three-game series in Mount Maunganui yesterday to give the visitors victory by five wickets with four balls to spare.

That gave Australia the series win 2-1 after New Zealand won the opener in Auckland before the visitors levelled the ledger in Mount Maunganui on Thursday.

After the White Ferns tallied a competitive 270-9 from their 50 overs, opener Beth Mooney (69 off 73 balls) got Australia off to a rollicking start. The New Zealand fielding wasn’t up to scratch under pressure as a bunch of boundaries were mixed in with some quick singles hit to fielders inside the circle.

Lanning had two key moments in her innings, the first when she was dropped by wicketkeeper Rachel Priest when standing up to the medium-pace of captain Suzie Bates.

A flashpoint erupted at the start of the 22nd over, bowled by teenage leggie Amelia Kerr, as Lanning - on 34 - was beaten by the flight and turn, only for Priest to fumble the stumping chance. However, the leg bail fell off and New Zealand appealed, claiming that the ball had dislodged it, rather than Priest’s gloves.

After a discussion between the umpires, Lanning was given not out and she and Priest were then involved in a heated discussion before play resumed after a talk between the umpires and the two captains.