Released by Delhi Capitals (DC) despite guiding them to three consecutive Women’s Premier League (WPL) finals, former captain Meg Lanning was released by the franchise. With a week to go into mini-auction, Lanning may have made DC team management regret their decision as she smashed a 79-ball 135 for Melbourne Stars against Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 clash at North Sydney Oval.
Lanning hit as many as 22 fours in her innings, the most by a batter in WBBL history. She hit four sixes in her first WBBL century since 2019.
Top 3 highest individual scores in WBBL history
Lanning is Melbourne Stars' third batter to score a century in WBBL history. Her 135-run knock is the third-highest score in WBBL. The first spot belongs to Lizelle Lee who scored an unbeaten 150 for Hobart Hurricanes against Perth Scorchers in the previous season. The South African is followed by Grace Harris who scored an unbeaten 136 for Brisbane Heat against Perth Scorchers in the 2023 edition.
Lanning starts slow, then goes berserk
Lanning started slow and then accelerated. She was batting on run-a-ball 26 after the powerplay overs. She reached her fifty from 41 balls in the 11th over. The opener switched to fifth gear. In the 16th over, she reached her century off 61 balls. The onslaught continued. Even Ashleigh Gardner could not stop her. She missed out on reaching her 150, losing her wicket to Lauren Cheatle on the second ball of the final over.
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Huge total on board
Lanning helped Melbourne Stars post 219/4 on the board, the third-highest score in WBBL history. Interestingly, all three top-scores have come at North Sydney.
Lanning’s stunning WPL record
Lanning will once again be on list of several franchises. From 27 WPL games, she has scored 952 runs at an average of 39.66, including nine half-centuries. Her strike rate is 127.10.
Only Mumbai Indians' (MI) Nat Sciver-Brunt (1,027 runs) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Ellyse Perry (132.96) have more runs than her.