Lee hits 50 off 17 balls in Surrey blitz

Lizelle Lee pummelled the fastest Kia Super League half-century to ensure the Surrey Stars finished their fixtures with a bang.

The South African opener smashed 50 in just 17 balls to propel her side to a 35-run victory over Lancashire Thunder in a reduced nine-overs-a-side match.

While the last round of group games was all about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s before the Hundred replaces the competition next year, Lancashire will hope it is consigned to a footnote of history as they ended 2019 winless.

They are the only side to go through a season without winning, a feat they also endured in 2017 when each team played only five matches.

Only one of their bowlers went at under 10 per over, while England all-rounder Nat Sciver had her own fun at the top of the order with Lee, reaching her 50 off 26 balls.

Needing 133 to win, Lancashire reached 50 without loss but it was the rate that got to them in the end as only two of Surrey’s six bowlers went at more than 10 per over.

Another South African, Marizanne Kapp, made sure her legacy as one of the most disciplined bowlers of the KSL was intact, finishing her career with an economy rate of 5.38, the lowest of any bowler, with 58 per cent dot-ball deliveries.

Meanwhile, Hannah Jones, bowling her first overs of the KSL, picked up three for 11 in one over, the best figures of the night.

A brilliant knock of 74 by Amy Jones helped Loughborough Lightning (163 for four) beat Southern Vipers (127) by 36 runs while Yorkshire (104 for four) won their rainaffected match at Western Storm (99 for three) by five runs.