Lee ton in vain, as Proteas women lose series

Sydney - Australia women claimed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the women’s one-day international (ODI) series after beating the Proteas by a convincing nine wickets in a rain affected, third of the five-match series in Sydney.

The win comes in spite of an outstanding, maiden ODI century by Lizelle Lee.

The Southern Stars finish the ICC Women’s Championship (which they won in October) with 36 points, seven points clear of runners up, England.

South Africa are in sixth place and will take part in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier tournament in Sri Lanka in February 2017.

Meg Lanning (80*) and Nicole Bolton (77*) shared an unbeaten 161-run partnership for the second wicket to bat their side to victory after South Africa set them a 174-run target.

Lee hit 102 runs from 89 deliveries (six 4s, seven 6s) after South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.

Rain delayed the start of play, reducing the match to 32 overs a side.

Lee and Mignon du Preez (36) shared a 110-runs for the third wicket after the losses of Suné Luus and Dinesha Devnarain for seven and two respectively.

Another collapse followed the loss of Du Preez’ wicket in the 26^th over, seeing the visitors slide from 143/3 to 173/8 with no one reaching double figures.

Three run-outs (Chloe Tryon 2, Anne Bosch 6, Moseline Daniels 6) and three wickets by Grace Harris (3/31) ensured that South Africa were reduced to the obtainable score after the promising partnership by Du Preez and Lee.

The only wicket to fall during the Australian reply, came courtesy of Ayabonga Khaka (1/41) when she bowled Elyse Villani out for 10 at the end of the opening over.