By JARROD POTTER
NOT even a Meg Lanning century could derail Dandenong (3/223) as a stellar knock from Lions’ captain Kelly Applebee helped chase down Box Hill’s 8/222.
On a batting-friendly track at Greaves Reserve, Dandenong couldn’t rouse the Megastar from the crease as she went on to bludgeon 122 from 110 balls.
The rest of the Mustangs order watched on as Lanning took to most of the Lions’ bowling attack. Julie Hunter (2/23) and Sarah Elliott (2/32) were the only Dandenong players able to halt Lanning’s charge in a battle of the Australian representatives.
Lanning batted down the order as her teammates fell around here, before eventually skying one to end her 10th Premier-grade century knock. Outside of Cassandra Brock (28) and Anna Lanning (32), the captain Meg Lanning didn’t receive much help from the Mustangs’ batting order. It would prove critical as Dandenong went about its chase.
Erica Kershaw (0) was taken from the crease early by Meg Lanning and it brought together Elliott (50) and Kelly Applebee (97no) to guide the rest of the chase. The Elliott/Applebee partnership accrued 86 runs before Elliott fell just after her half-century, edging Isabelle Watson (1/26) to the wicketkeeper Kate Dempsey.
Applebee took the rest of the required tally in her stride, combining with Laura Croft (27) and Chelsea Moscript (16no) to chase down the runs with five overs remaining.
Applebee’s knock included 10 fours and a six to narrowly miss out on her fourth VWCA century.
The win brings Dandenong back to third on 17pts and the Lions face Essendon-Maribyrnong Park on 14 December at Greaves Reserve in their last home match this year.
