Birthday special: Top 3 knocks by Lizelle Lee
Lizelle Lee, an aggressive opening batter, has earned a reputation in the international circuit for her big-hitting abilities. She made her international debut at the age of 21 and has swiftly established herself as one of the Proteas Women’s most important members.
After her international debut, she went on to make over 60 appearances in the next three years, scoring eleven half-centuries. Currently, the 29-year-old opener has three centuries and 23 half-centuries in the ODI format, along with a century and 13 fifties in the T20I format. As she turns a year older, let’s have a look at her top three knocks in international cricket:
132*(131) vs India on 12th March 2021
Her unbeaten knock of 132 runs helped the Proteas team go a level up against India during their tour of India in March 2021. This knock came in the third ODI of the five-match series, where the two teams were tied at 1-1, and the power-hitting by Lee helped her team to gain the upper hand in the competition. Notably, this is her career-best score in ODIs so far. During the chase in the game, she unleashed the beast within, putting India into deep trouble as the bowlers failed to dismiss her and she single-handedly snatched the victory. In the 131 balls that she faced, she hit 16 fours and two sixes.
117(107) vs England on 12th June 2018
Her knock against England was the second ODI century of her career. Unfortunately, her efforts went in vain as England went on to win the game. After England put up a target of 332 runs for the Proteas to chase, it was Lee’s heroics that gave them hopes of a victory. But her century came in a losing cause as South Africa’s batting line-up couldn’t withstand the English bowlers. Notably, Lee’s 117-run knock constituted 13 fours and five sixes.
102(89) vs Australia on 23rd November 2016
Lee scored her first-ever ODI century against the mighty Australians during the ICC Women’s Championship. The then 23-year-old opened the game for her side and went on to score an 89-ball-117 to set up a target of 174 runs for the Australians to chase. The 50 over match had been cut short to 32 overs, and Australia chased down the score with nine wickets to spare, but Lee was adjudged as the player of the match for her heroics with the bat. Her innings included six fours and seven sixes.
