Lizelle Lee was at her brutal best as her century saw South Africa to a tournament record total and a 113-run win over Thailand at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- Lizelle Lee struck her maiden T20I century from 59 balls, the fifth ton in the history of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
- South Africa broke India’s record for the highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history of 194 for five against New Zealand in 2018.
- Thailand bettered their efforts against West Indies and England with the bat but suffered another heavy defeat in Group B
Lee took the Thai attack apart with the T20 World Cup’s fifth ton and 88 of her 101 runs came from boundaries as the Proteas posted 195 for three, the highest team total in the tournament’s history.
With Sornarrin Tippoch’s debutants slipping to 82 all out, South Africa strengthened their grip on Group B as they face Pakistan on Sunday with the semi-finals in sight.
Thailand have a knack for nabbing early wickets and were gifted one when Dane van Niekerk (2) patted Ratanporn Padunglerd’s full toss to mid-on.
Lee, tenth in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Batting Rankings, dominated the scoring and slog-swept Onnicha Kamchomphu for a 75-metre six.
Thailand used seven different bowlers inside nine overs but none could withstand Lee’s assault and she reached 50 from 35 balls with a straight six.
Sune Luus, featuring in her fourth Women’s T20 World Cup aged 24, batted on the undercard but still swung Chanida Sutthiruang’s full toss for six over fine leg.
Lee came in without a half-century in nine international innings but glided towards a century in 59 balls, showing her touch with a late cut for four before bringing up a ton fittingly with a four.
No sooner had she raised her bat to salute a jubilant South Africa dugout than she chipped a catch back to Suleeporn Laomi to end the partnership on 131.
Luus ticked to her fourth T20I fifty and Chloe Tryon carted Tippoch over the leg-side fence twice in a penultimate over that cost 20, lifting her side to a record total.
It didn’t take long for Thailand to lose their first wicket as Natthakan Chantam was run out by a fine throw from keeper Trisha Chetty.
Ismail tore the Thai order asunder, beating Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and then Naruemol Chaiwai for sheer pace in successive balls to complete a team hat-trick.
Tippoch and Nattaya Boochatham played out two maidens before a world-class catch from Laura Wolvaardt at midwicket accounted for the Thailand captain.
Kamchomphu led a lone resistance, taking Ayabonga Khaka for back-to-back boundaries and striking Thailand’s first six at the Women’s T20 World Cup off Van Niekerk.
Kamchomphu (26) nicked Luus behind in the 12th over, Chetty whipped off Boochatham’s bails to end her 31-ball vigil and also stumped Wongpaka Liengprasert (6) for the seventh wicket.
Chanida Sutthiruang was given out lbw on review off Nadine de Klerk, Laomi looped a catch to Van Niekerk and Ismail castled Padunglerd to complete a comprehensive win.
Scores in brief
South Africa beat Thailand by 113 runs, Manuka Oval, Canberra
South Africa 195-3, 20 overs (Lizelle Lee 101, Sune Luus 61 not out; Ratanporn Padunglerd 1-19)
Thailand 82 all out, 19.1 overs (Onnicha Kamchomphu 26; Shabnim Ismail 3-8, Sune Luus 3-15)
Courtesy of the ICC
Comments from our correspondent Julian Thompson:
* As heard on Radio 5 Live, South Africa (195/3, 20 overs) beat Thailand (82 all out) in a one-sided match, to win by 113 runs
Lizelle Lee 101; Sune Luus 61*; Ratanaporn Padunglerd 1/19; Chanida Sutthiruang 1/32; Suleeporn Laomi 1/39; Shabnim Ismail 3/8 Sune Luus 3/15
* Lizelle Lee’s century came from 60 balls, with 16 ‘fours’ and 3 ’sixes.’ Lee retained strike for half of South Africa’s innings, boosting their run rate to 9.75
* South Africa hit a total of seven ‘sixes’ – two by Sune Luus (61*) and two more by Chloe Tryon (24) – Tryon’s whose strike rate was more than two-runs-per-ball
* Thailand struggled against South Africa’s bowling attack, losing three players – first ball to Shabnim Ismail (3/8)
* Following departure of their opener Nattakan Chantham (6) to a ‘run out,’ Shabnim Ismail gave golden ducks to Nannapat Koncharoenkai (0) and Nauremol Chaiwai (0)
* Thailand lost four wickets with only 15 runs on the board, when their captain Sornnarin Tippoch (1) was caught off Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/4) – Mlaba bowled 20 dot balls
* Only two players scored into double figures. By the Hundred benchmark (16.4 balls) Thailand were seven wickets down – just short of seventy runs
* Shabnim Ismail returned to clean-bowl Ratanaporn Padunglerd (7) at the first ball of the final over. Thailand closed on 82 (19.1 overs)
