Lanning's unbeaten 135 eases Australia home over the Proteas

Meg Lanning's 15th ODI century powered Australia to a resounding five-wicket victory over South Africa to maintain her team's unbeaten status at the Women's World Cup in Wellington.

The Australian captain struck 135 not out to ensure South Africa's 272/5 was comfortably overtaken.

Half-centuries from Laura Wolvaardt (90) and Sune Luus (51) had given South Africa a fighting chance, but that was erased by Lanning's brilliance and a poor fielding effort.

South Africa dropped four catches - two by Lizelle Lee off Shabnim Ismail's bowling - and they were made to pay by the classy Australian batting outfit.

This certainly didn't help a South African team that were seeking its first-ever win over the Aussies.

South Africa had high hopes at the start of Australia's innings when Ismail (2/33) had Alyssa Healy caught behind early on for one in the third over.

They were further buoyed by a magnificent diving catch from Mignon du Preez to get rid of Rachael Haynes for 17 just after the completion of the Powerplay, but from thereon it went downhill with Lanning taking control.

The Australian captain showed all her experience in masterminding the chase.

Beth Mooney (21), Tahlia McGrath (32) and Ashleigh Gardner (22) were the supporting acts, but Lanning was certainly the star of the show as she tore into the South African attack with her ferocious cutting, driving and pulling.

SET THE PLATFORM

Earlier, Wolvaardt was involved in significant partnerships with Lizelle Lee for the first wicket and also with her captain Luus to set up South Africa's total.

Lee took the initial pressure off Wolvaardt with 36 off 44 balls as the opening pair put on 88 in 19.4 overs that set the platform for the remainder of the innings.

However, just when Lee was threatening to really hurt Australia, she played all around a straight ball from legspinner Alana King.

Lara Goodall, who was back in the side at the expense of the out-of-form Tazmin Brits, came and went for 15 off 29 balls when she chipped Annabel Sutherland straight to mid-off.

Goodall's dismissal brought Luus to the crease and the Proteas skipper immediately brought a great deal of intensity to the innings. Luus certainly enjoys batting with Wolvaardt and was in good touch from the outset.

The pair put on 91 off just 92 balls, with Luus very much the aggressor, as Wolvaardt inched closer to that elusive maiden World Cup century.

EXPLOSIVE DUO

Wolvaardt's wait for her three-figure score will continue though after she hit Ashleigh Gardner straight down Tahlia McGrath's throat at long-on.

Unfortunately for South Africa, Luus followed Wolvaardt the next over when she was caught by the same fielder off Megan Schutt for a brilliant 52 off 51 balls.

Having lost both set batters Mignon du Preez attempted to maintain the momentum with a 13-ball 14, but her cameo was brought to a halt through a spectacular one-handed catch in the deep by Gardner.

It was therefore left to South Africa's superstar allrounder Marizanne Kapp (30*) and the big-hitting Chloe Tryon (17*) to provide the finishing touches.

And the explosive duo did just that with a superb unbroken partnership of 43 off just 25 balls to power South Africa to their highest score of the tournament thus far.

It was unfortunately nowhere near enough against this rampant Australia team who cantered home with 28 balls to spare.

AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jessica Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (capt), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune