Lanning makes history in Bowral

The third one-day international at the Bradman Oval in Bowral was a case of the West Indies versus two forces of nature.

On the one hand, the tourists had to deal with gusty winds, icy rain and constantly changing light conditions.

On the other, they faced off against the batting hurricane that is Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning.

Here are the moments that mattered from the world champions’ eight-wicket win.

Jonassen caught in Windies whirlwind

Southern Stars left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen bore the full brunt of the dominant strokeplay from Kycia Knight and Hayley Matthews early, with boundaries through cover, mid-off and mid-wicket seeing 12 runs come off her third over.

That over would see the pair tally 28 runs off the first five overs.

Osborne breaks through… again!

With Knight and Matthews again looking the goods at the top of the order, it was left to Erin Osborne to repeat her game-two heroics and break the dangerous partnership.

The off-spinner darted a length delivery into the stumps, rapped Knight on the pads and, after careful consideration, the umpire raised his finger to break the West Indies’ most promising partnership of the series on 97.

Matthews makes it three from three…

In an innings that featured some of the sweetest timing in the women’s game today, it was a ultimately a false stroke that would have pleased 16-year-old Matthews the most, with a mistimed swipe floating over mid-wicket’s head to see the teenager record her third half-century in as many matches.

… then throws it away

Matthews’ innings, while breathtaking, was needlessly cut short when a floating Osborne off-break proved too much temptation to resist and the West Indian lofted a simple catch to Ellyse Perry at long on.

With both openers back in the dressing room, the Australian attack were able to turn the screws on the West Indian middle order, and restrict the tourists to just 220.

Taylor gives West Indies hope

With a total at least 50 runs fewer than they would have been hoping for, the West Indies were up and about early in the field, when an arm ball from Stafanie Taylor snuck between bat and pad to bowl the in-form Nicole Bolton.

Bolton posted scores of 59 and 76 in the first two matches and her departure had the tourists eyeing their first victory on Australian soil.

Captain cool shows no fear

In dire straits following the wickets of Bolton and Ellyse Villani within four balls of each other, Lanning was as unflappable ever.

With only a few overs under her belt, and a new partner up the other end, Lanning strode down the wicket to lift Taylor over long-off’s head for four and ignite the Australian counter-punch.

Lanning handles the heat

Lanning and Ellyse Perry were starting to build a formidable partnership when the West Indies turned to firebrand quick Shamilia Connell for the breakthrough.

What they got instead was a pair of boundaries behind point from Lanning and a bowler who, after being labelled the fastest the Australian captain had ever faced earlier this week, never quite recovered from the ineffectual start.

Historic ton for Aussie skipper

Sitting on 95, and facing the West Indies’ first-innings hero in Matthews, Lanning blasted a wide delivery through cover point for four, then knocked a single to long-on to bring up the first ever century struck by a woman on the Bradman Oval.

The near-chanceless innings all but ensured the Southern Stars would chase down the 221-run target with ease.