Lanning, Villani shine in Victoria’s win over SA Scorpion

Tahila McGrath’s 105 went in vain as Meg Lanning scored 120* off 108 and Elyse Villani’s 106 off 114 guided Victoria to a convincing win over SA Scorpions. Victoria bounced back beautifully after their first loss whereas SA Scorpion started their campaign with a loss.

Batting first, SA Scorpion got the first blow in the 3rd over when opener Patterson tried to flick the ball but ended up giving a catch to Faltum at short mid-wicket. McGrath joined Saville at the crease, played sensibly and added 48 runs for the second wicket before Saville fell for 22 off 48. After that, McGrath and McPharlin resurrected the innings, build a partnership and took her team to 180 after 37 overs.

Before they could move further, McPharlin got out by a direct throw from Wareham. Middle order batters fell in a quick succession while McGrath anchored the innings till the end and scored a breezy 105 off 116 with 7 fours and 3 sixes. She was dismissed while trying to play a reverse sweep but missed it after hitting Molly Strano over deep mid wicket for 6 in the last over and they registered 251 on board.

Chasing 252, Victoria got off a good start. Molineux started innings with a boundary at the deep cover while her second boundary came over deep mid wicket region. Before she could settle down, Ellen Falconer picked up her wicket and handed over the first breakthrough to her team.

Meg Lanning joined Villani and both started hitting all around the ground and added 234 runs for the second wicket. Villani hit back to back boundaries at long on and long off in the fourth over whereas Lanning smashed Falconer for back to back three boundaries in the sixth over which helped them to put up 50 runs within 7 overs.

It became difficult for SA Scorpion to dismiss both the batters. After hitting two back to back boundaries at deep cover and deep backward point and scoring a century, Villani finally fell at 106. Meg Lanning smashed a blistering 120* off 108 and guided her team to an easy victory over SA Scorpion.