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Lizelle Lee. (Gallo images)
Lizelle Lee played one of the biggest innings ever by a South African in the 50+ format when the Proteas Women beat India by six runs on the DLS method in the third of five ODIs in Lucknow on Friday.
The mighty starter broke 16 fours and two sixes on a magnificent and undefeated 133 of 131 deliveries to expertly guide a 249 chase.
His effort is the third-highest individual score for the Proteas, with just 153 from Johmari Logtenberg in 2007 and Lee’s opening partner, 149 from Laura Wolvaardt in 2017 being better.
While this match couldn’t match the famous’ 438 game ‘between Proteas’s men and Australians exactly 15 years ago in terms of pyrotechnics, Lee’s punch could certainly compare favorably to Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 on the Wanderers.
It could prove to be a defining contribution in the context of the series.
Lee received excellent support from the experienced and elegant Mignon du Preez, who was poised to play a supporting role in a fluent 37.
South Africa appeared to falter as Du Preez and Marizanne Kapp were fired one over the other, but no one could stop the 28-year-old running back, who proved to be simply irrepressible.
Previously, the bowlers managed to overcome a capricious performance (they conceded 24 extras including 13 widths) to restrict their hosts.
India’s effort relied on Punam Raut’s solid 77s and a trio of 36.
One of those contributions came from veteran captain Mithali Raj, who in the process became the first player in history to score 10,000 international runs.
But the pace and variation of Shabnim Ismail and Kapp, as well as the usual precision of Aya Khaka, kept things at bay as the Proteas were able to once again celebrate a remarkable victory.
