Lizelle Lee scored a magnificent century only to see the Proteas Women beaten by nine wickets by Australia in their ODI on Wednesday.
The loss give the hosts a 3-0 sweep of the ICC Women’s Championship matches, but once again the Proteas women saw a good position wasted by a batting collapse.
It was not as bad as when they lost five wickets for no runs against New Zealand, but dispiriting nonetheless to fall from 143-2 to 173-8 in a match shortened by rain to 32 overs a side.
Lee and Mignon du Preez put on 110 in 17 overs, recovering from 33-2. But when Du Preez went for 36 off 50 balls, no one was able to stay with Lee and none scored more than six runs.
Lee battled aggressively through 89 balls, hammering seven sixes and six fours, until she was dismissed with the score on 155. It was her first ODI century, beating her previous best by 25 runs.
The Australians had no trouble in knocking off the required runs in 27 overs, with Meg Lanning top-scoring with 80 off 75 balls, in partnership with Nicole Bolton (77 off 83).
Two more ODIs are scheduled, but these do not form part of the ICC Championship.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
