CAPE TOWN – Proteas star opening batter Lizelle Lee has once again hailed the team’s bowling attack as “the best in the world”.
South Africa’s pace-bowling trio of Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka, along with leg-spinners Dane van Niekerk and Sune Luus, were the toast of last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup in England.
On Saturday, on their return to the UK 12 months after their semi-final defeat of the hosts, they once again reminded everyone of their class. Ismail (3/25) and Khaka (3/42) led the way upfront, reducing England to 29/3 and later 97/8, before restricting the world champions to 189/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
This set up a relatively easy chase for the Proteas batters, with Lee (92 not out) and Van Niekerk (58) both registering half-centuries, to take the visitors home by seven wickets with 27 balls to spare.
“I believe we have the best bowling attack in the world. I don’t believe there is a team that comes near our bowling attack. The pitch didn’t have too many demons in it, but they just pushed through and took wickets which we didn’t expect,” Lee told reporters after SA went 1-0 up in the ODI series.
“It is actually great, even if we didn’t get a high total to know that you have a bowling attack like that coming in. I think all three are up there, they are very good,” she added.