South Africa crush Thailand by 113 runs in Women’s T20 World Cup

CANBERRA: South Africa clubbed the highest total at the Women´s T20 World Cup to crush minnows Thailand by a massive 113 runs Friday, while England eased past Pakistan to stay on track for a place in the semi-finals.

Proteas skipper Dane Van Niekerk won the toss 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 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 Proteas registered a commanding victory over England in their opening game and by thrashing Thailand have two wins from two in a tight Group B. Only the top two from the two five-team groups progress to the knockout phase.

In front of a sparse crowd at Manuka Oval, Thailand got an early breakthrough with the wicket of Van Niekerk.

But Lee got the scoreboard moving with a flurry of boundaries an she built a big partnership with Sune Luus.

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 but that was as good as it got for the Thais.