ICC Women’s ODI cricketer of 2021 has been announced. The player chosen by ICC is a consistent performer who played brilliant match-defining batting performances for her team in 2021. It was none other than 29-year-old opening batter, Lizelle Lee.
This proteas batter has scored 3234 runs in ODIs since her debut in 2013. She has hit 3 centuries and 23 half-centuries in 93 matches. She is an experienced and skilled batter who has had a great career however, 2021 without a doubt was her best year.
The start of the year was not the most motivating as she got out on a duck in the first match of their series against Pakistan. She didn’t let this define her future performances as in the next two matches she scored 47 and 49 which aided South Africa to clean sweep Pakistan.
South Africa’s Lizelle Lee Wins ‘ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021’
Congratulations @zella15j – very well-deserved honor. #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/RG8s7HY13M
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 24, 2022
She dominated in the series against India amassing 288 runs. This included 2 half-centuries and one century. She scored 132 runs not out which was a career-best in ODIs in the second ODI when India had set a score for 249 in their 50 overs. Lee with her flamboyant batting scored 16 fours and 2 sixes. There was also rain expected so she made sure to take her team over the DLS par score and eventually South Africa ended up winning the match by scoring 6 runs more than the par DLS score. She scored 4 fours and 1 six in the last 3 overs to make sure South Africa would reach the score. These performances go her the player of the series as South Africa won that series 4-1 a big part being her top-notch performances an average of 144.
This form was consistent in the next series against West Indies as well. She scored 3 brilliant half-centuries. She scared 91 not out, 18, 78 not out and 61 in this series. Her consistent batting performances helped South Africa win the series 4-1.
In total, she scored 632 runs in 2021 at a staggering average of 90.28. She scored 1 century and 5 half-centuries in 11 innings. She also managed to carry her bat 4 times those 11 innings. She was flamboyant at the crease hitting 81 fours and 5 sixes in 2021.
With her consistency and flamboyance in 2021, she showed her calibre and skill and is a perfect recipient of this award. Congratulations to her!
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