'Some days you’re on': Lanning reflects on epic ton

Meg Lanning had just smacked the highest individual score ever in a women’s T20 International, but her seemingly insatiable hunger for runs meant there was still a tinge of frustration when she walked off the County Ground in Chelmsford on Saturday morning (AEST).

"I tried to hit it for 12," she said with a laugh of the last ball of a remarkable innings, a single that completed 63 unbeaten balls of destruction against England’s bowlers.

The term masterclass is almost an understatement for the display Lanning put on, flaying England to all corners of the Essex ground in a stunning 133 not out that featured 17 fours and seven sixes.

Even the sold-out Chelmsford crowd, the most raucous and partisan of English venues when it comes to the women’s game, could only stand and applaud when the Australian skipper strode from the ground, her 133 contributing to a record Australian total of 3-226.

Lanning had an ODI score of 69 and a Test half-century under her belt from the first four matches of the multi-format Ashes series, nothing to frown at for mere mortals but quieter than normal by Lanning’s standards.

By the end of the night, Australia had not only snapped England’s stranglehold on ‘Fortress Chelmsford’, ending the hosts’ unbeaten run at the venue, they’d also won the Ashes outright with two games remaining.

England, kept to 9-133 from their 20 overs, finished level with Lanning’s individual score.

"I didn’t even think about that," Lanning said after play. "I was just really pleased and proud of the group that we were able to win at such a ground, The Fortress.

"To come here and play so well was great."

Since returning from major shoulder surgery last March, Lanning had yet to consistently hit the heights that underpinned her career up until that point, with her sole century since her return coming against Pakistan in Malaysia last October.

But any suggestion that going under the knife may have somehow sapped her powers were firmly put here, a point underlined by each of the seven times she cleared the fence during her batting blitz.

"I was hoping it was (coming), I feel like hitting ball reasonably well without being able to play really freely ... (I) felt like if I stuck at it long enough, it would happen,” she said.

Through her two half-centuries of the series to date, Lanning still looked somewhat scratchy and still some way off her free-flowing best.

As it turned out, the rapid switch back from Test mode to T20 was exactly what she needed to rediscover her spark.

"That's what T20 does, it allows you to play freely,” she said. “Once you get a few away it can roll on pretty quick.

"It was nice to be able to cash in. It doesn't always happen; some days you're on and (you’ve) got to make the most of it.

"I was a bit frustrated at getting starts and getting out all the time, so I was keen to keep the foot down today and take the opportunity.

"Hopefully it’s a kick-starter but it was just nice to contribute to a win."

Lanning’s century saw her become the third woman to score multiple T20I tons, her innings now sitting alongside the 126 she struck against Ireland during the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2014.

While that knock came against one of the lower-ranked sides in the game, this display came against the world No.2 and one of the game’s most experienced and talented attacks.

"(That Ireland century) was a long time ago, but I hit the ball today as well as I have for a long time," Lanning said.

"I guess that’s what T20 does; you go out there and swing the bat a bit and hope for the best at time."

Australia will travel to Brighton on Saturday, ahead of the second Ashes T20I at Hove on Sunday.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England T20 squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead England 10-2

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

Only Test: Match Drawn

First T20: Australia won by 93 runs

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol