Lizelle Lee’s century led South Africa to a tournament record and 113-run win over Thailand at the T20 World Championship for ICC women.
Lee dismantled the Thai attack with the fifth ton of the T20 World Championship. 88 of their 101 races came out of bounds when the Proteas booked 195/3, the highest team total in tournament history. After Sornarrin Tippoch’s debutants dropped to 82, South Africa increased its influence on Group B when they faced Pakistan on Sunday and the semi-final was in sight.
Thailand had a knack for snatching early wickets and was gifted when Dane van Niekerk (2) patted Ratanporn Padunglerd’s full throw on the center.
Lee, 10th in the MRF Tires ICC T20I batting rankings, dominated the standings and swept Onnicha Kamchomphu for a 75-meter six. Thailand used seven different bowlers in nine overs, but none could stand Lee’s attack and she hit 50 out of 35 balls with an even six.
She had come in nine international innings without half a century, but slipped in 59 balls to a century and showed her touch with a late cut for four before producing a ton with a four.
No sooner had she raised her racket to greet a cheering shelter in South Africa, she threw Suleeporn Laomi back to end a strong partnership with Sune Luus on 131.
Luus ticked fifty on her fourth T20I, even when Chloe Tryon Tippoch carted 20 over the leg fence last but two costs and raised her side to a record high.
It wasn’t long before Thailand lost its first wicket when Natthakan Chantam went out of the race due to a beautiful throw by Wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty. Ismail tore apart the Thai order and defeated Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and then Naruemol Chaiwai to achieve a team hat-trick in successive balls.
Tippoch and Nattaya Boochatham played two girls before a top-class catch by Laura Wolvaardt in the middle of the wicket were responsible for the Thai captain.
Kamchomphu led alone resistance, taking Ayabonga Khaka for two consecutive borders and beating Thailand’s first six at the T20 Women’s World Cup ahead of van Niekerk. She stole past Luus on the 12th before Chetty Boochatham bailed out to end her 31-ball vigil and blunted Wongpaka Liengprasert (6) for the seventh wicket.
Chanida Sutthiruang was issued during the review by Nadine de Klerk lbw, Laomi dragged a catch to van Niekerk and Ismail-occupied Padunglerd to achieve a comprehensive victory.