CANBERRA, Feb 28, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – South Africa clubbed the highest total at a women’s T20 World Cup to crush minnows Thailand by a massive 113 runs and stay on track for a place in the semi-finals Friday.
Skipper Dane Van Niekerk won the toss in Canberra and opted to bat, with
her team building 195 for three, anchored by powerful opener Lizelle Lee’s
101.
It was the biggest score in the tournament’s history, beating India’s 194
for five against New Zealand in Providence in 2018.
In reply, Thailand were all out for 82 with South Africa bagging a hat-
trick off Shabnim Ismail’s bowling, although one was a run-out.
“The box we wanted to tick today was to take the win,” said Van Niekerk.
“Credit to Lizelle for that century… but I think our fielding let us down a
little bit today.
“I don’t think we were at our 100 percent best today.”
The Proteas registered a commanding victory over England in their opening
game and by thrashing Thailand, have two wins from two to be well-placed in
Group A.
England, who got their campaign back on track with a dominant victory over
Thailand, play Pakistan later Friday. The West Indies, also with two wins
from two, are in action on Sunday.
In front of a sparse crowd at Manuka Oval, Thailand got an early
breakthrough with Van Niekerk chipping a Ratanaporn Padunglerd delivery to
midwicket for an easy catch.
But Lee got the scoreboard moving with a flurry of boundaries an she built
a big partnership with Sune Luus, bringing up her half-century with a huge
six down the ground.
In a bid to keep South Africa guessing, Thailand used seven different
bowlers in the opening nine overs. But the tactic backfired with too many
loose deliveries.
Lee raced to her maiden T20 century, in her 72nd international, off 59
balls, with three sixes and 16 fours, before being caught and bowled by
Suleeporn Laomi on the very next delivery.
Luus (61 not out) and Chloe Tryon (24) hit out late on to ensure Thailand
faced a huge target.
The Thais survived two early dropped catches before Ismail stepped up for
an incredible fourth over.
Nattaya Boochatham was run out off the first delivery, then Ismail cleaned-
bowled both Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and Naruemol Chaiwai from the next two to
leave Thailand reeling at 15 for three.
Onnicha Kamchomphu made a spirited 26, including her team’s first six of
the tournament, but that was as good as it got for the Thais.
“All credit to Lizelle, she hit the ball hard but we also didn’t get our
lines and lengths right,” said Thai skipper Sornnarin Tippoch. “That’s
something to improve on, also our fielding today.”