Meg Lanning’s initial phase in the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) was marked by a series of early dismissals, reflecting an uncharacteristic struggle for the seasoned batter.
In the match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), she was dismissed for just 2 runs off 12 deliveries, falling to a remarkable catch by Ellyse Perry at mid-on. Similarly, in a game against the Mumbai Indians, Lanning was bowled by Shabnim Ismail, failing to provide Delhi Capitals an ideal start.
Despite these setbacks, Lanning’s resilience and experience enabled her to overcome this challenging period, culminating in a commanding innings against the Gujarat Giants. She scored a phenomenal 92 runs off 57 balls, reaffirming her stature in the league.
Put into bat first, Lanning and her opening partner, Shafali Verma, provided a blazing start for the Capitals. The duo amassed an 83-run partnership in just nine overs, with Shafali contributing a brisk 40 off 27 balls, including three boundaries and three sixes. Their aggressive approach laid a solid foundation for a formidable total.
Lanning’s innings was a display of precision and power, featuring 15 fours and a six. She maintained an attacking stance throughout, even as wickets fell at the other end. Her leadership and batting prowess were instrumental in guiding the Capitals to a competitive score of 177 for five in their allotted 20 overs.
The opener nearly carried her bat through the innings and was striking well in the middle, reaching 84* with just six balls remaining. Whether or not the century was on her mind, it certainly had fans intrigued. She struck a four off the first ball, moving to 88*, and added another boundary a couple of balls later. With eight runs needed for a century and two balls to spare, she fell for a brilliant 92 (57) and the wait for the first century in the WPL continues.
The Gujarat Giants faced a daunting task in their chase, needing 178 runs to secure victory against a well-prepared Delhi Capitals side. However, a scintillating innings by Harleen Deol propelled the Giants to a remarkable victory.
Loves all things female cricket
