Lanning leads Stars to inaugural WBBL win

Superstar Meg Lanning has steered her Melbourne Stars into cricket history as the first team to win a Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) match.

The Stars hosted the Brisbane Heat in a double-header at Melbourne’s Junction Oval and Australian captain Lanning lived up to her billing as the No.1-ranked batter in the world.

In game one, the 23-year-old helped the Stars post an imposing total of 156, slamming 90 runs off 58 balls.

In reply, the Heat made 135 before being bowled out in the final over but their innings featured an entertaining knock from tennis convert Ash Barty, who made 39.

Lanning conceded she was helped by conditions on a hot Melbourne morning.

“The pitch is a road,” Lanning said.

“The outfield is pretty quick too so it was a batters’ paradise out there.”

Lanning and English international Natalie Scive, who was batting at No.3, put on a partnership of 65 at more than a run a ball.

The Heat’s Delissa Kimmince was the pick of their bowlers with 3-25 off her four overs.

Brisbane raced to 1-56 by the sixth over, but their innings came unstuck thanks to some fine bowling from legspinning duo Alana King and Kristen Beams.

Like its fraternal counterpart, the WBBL has eight teams and will play 58 matches over 51 days.