Lee lights up WBBL again with second consecutive century

AAP

13-Nov-2024 • 1 hr ago

Hobart Hurricanes 191 for 2 (Lee 103, Carey 64) beat Adelaide Strikers 163 for 3 (Wolvaardt, Mandhana 51) by 28 runs

A blistering Lizelle Lee backed up a record century with another ton, becoming the first player to score hundreds in consecutive WBBL matches.

The Hobart Hurricanes opener cracked 103 off 59 deliveries as her side beat a struggling Adelaide Strikers outfit by 28 runs. Lee’s knock, which featured 13 fours and four sixes, came after she notched the highest-ever WBBL score of 150 not out against Perth Scorchers on Sunday.

Hurricanes posted 191 for 2 and restricted the last-placed Strikers to 163 for 3 to jump to the top of the ladder with three matches in hand before finals.

South Africa’s Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2022, had to change bats after hitting a six in the second over. She was dropped twice in the 20s off the spin of Anesu Mushangwe in the fourth over and made Strikers pay dearly. She brought up her half century off just 35 balls with a six before reaching triple figures in the 14th over with a boundary.

Lee was run out in the next over at the non-striker’s end after a ball touched bowler Jemma Barsby’s hand and ricocheted into the stumps. Across the past two matches, Lee has hit 253 off 134 balls with 25 fours and 16 sixes. She also equaled Alyssa Healy with the most WBBL centuries.

Lee was supported well by Nicola Carey, who made an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, and skipper Elyse Villani’s 23 not out from 14 at the death.

Smriti Mandhana got Strikers’ chase off to a flying start, but when the India international fell to Lauren Smith in the eighth over her side’s chances dipped.

Young legspinner Amy Smith put the breaks on Strikers in the middle overs and finished with an impressive 1 for 16 from four overs. South African import Laura Wolvaardt was unbeaten with 63 off 40 but it wasn’t enough.