Lee hails Proteas’ attack

‘They are the best in the world,’ says opener after easy victory over England

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, upon their return to the United Kingdom 12 months after their semi-final defeat to 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 South Africa went 1-0 up in the series.

Lee believes it gives the team, especially the batter, great confidence that they have such a quality attack at their disposal.

“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 very good,” she added.

The victory proved that the Proteas can beat one of the “Big Three” women nations, but Lee doesn’t believe it quite makes up for last year’s heartbreak in Bristol.

“Yes it’s a good feeling … but let’s be honest we know it’s not a World Cup. We came to win a series and it is good to have this type of performances.

“We have improved immensely (since last year) in all areas.

“The World Cup was a good campaign for us, we batted well, we bowled well, and we didn’t do anything that badly in the semi-final. England were just a bit better than us. But is four years of hard work until the next World Cup and it is series like this that just gives you the confidence until the next one.”

There was one controversial moment in the first ODI where Lee was “caught” on the boundary by Katherine Brunt, only for the decision to be overturned.

Lee believed she was out and took a while to gather her emotions afterwards before taking the Proteas home with a massive six over the leg-side boundary.

The Proteas travel to the Hove tomorrow for the second ODI of the series.