Australia star Meg Lanning has marked her comeback to competitive cricket by top scoring for Victoria in their domestic 50-over clash with Western Australia.
After last playing in the Women's Premier League in India in March, the 31-year-old took to the field in the Women's National Cricket League match at the WACA on Tuesday.
Lanning was given a life on three when she was caught off a no-ball but went on to smash 51 from 48 balls in an impressive return.
Victoria were sent in to bat by WA, struggling to 176 all-out in the 48th over.
The only valuable contributions other than Lanning came from Ella Hayward (40 not out) and opener Sophie Reid (32).
Fellow star Ellyse Perry is also back for Victoria after overcoming a knee issue, and has been cleared to start Australia's international summer.
Lanning was ruled out of the women's Ashes campaign due to undisclosed health concerns just weeks before Australia left for England in June.
The long-term Australia captain briefly featured in a warm-up match for Victoria against NSW earlier this month, playing in one of three games on the Sunshine Coast.
Lanning will miss the home white-ball series against West Indies next month, but her comeback with Victoria is an important step in her return to the national team.
She initially took a break from cricket last year following Australia's gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but returned for a home series against Pakistan in January.
She led Australia to a Twenty20 World Cup title in South Africa in February, and played in the WPL before her bombshell absence was dropped on the eve of the Ashes.
