Lee took the Thai attack apart with the T20 World Cup’s fifth ton and 88 of her 101 runs came from boundaries as the Proteas posted 195 for three, the highest team total in the tournament’s history.

With Sornarrin Tippoch’s debutants slipping to 82 all out, South Africa strengthened their grip on Group B as they face Pakistan on Sunday with the semi-finals in sight.

Thailand have a knack for nabbing early wickets and were gifted one when Dane van Niekerk (2) patted Ratanporn Padunglerd’s full toss to mid-on.

Lee, tenth in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Batting Rankings, dominated the scoring and slog-swept Onnicha Kamchomphu for a 75-metre six.

Thailand used seven different bowlers inside nine overs but none could withstand Lee’s assault and she reached 50 from 35 balls with a straight six.

Sune Luus, featuring in her fourth Women’s T20 World Cup aged 24, batted on the undercard but still swung Chanida Sutthiruang’s full toss for six over fine leg.

Lee came in without a half-century in nine international innings but glided towards a century in 59 balls, showing her touch with a late cut for four before bringing up a ton fittingly with a four.

No sooner had she raised her bat to salute a jubilant South Africa dugout than she chipped a catch back to Suleeporn Laomi to end the partnership on 131.

Luus ticked to her fourth T20I fifty and Chloe Tryon carted Tippoch over the leg-side fence twice in a penultimate over that cost 20, lifting her side to a record total.

It didn’t take long for Thailand to lose their first wicket as Natthakan Chantam was run out by a fine throw from keeper Trisha Chetty.

Ismail tore the Thai order asunder, beating Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and then Naruemol Chaiwai for sheer pace in successive balls to complete a team hat-trick.

Tippoch and Nattaya Boochatham played out two maidens before a world-class catch from Laura Wolvaardt at midwicket accounted for the Thailand captain.

Kamchomphu led a lone resistance, taking Ayabonga Khaka for back-to-back boundaries and striking Thailand’s first six at the Women’s T20 World Cup off Van Niekerk.

Kamchomphu (26) nicked Luus behind in the 12th over, Chetty whipped off Boochatham’s bails to end her 31-ball vigil and also stumped Wongpaka Liengprasert (6) for the seventh wicket.

Chanida Sutthiruang was given out lbw on review off Nadine de Klerk, Laomi looped a catch to Van Niekerk and Ismail castled Padunglerd to complete a comprehensive win.

 Scores in brief

South Africa beat Thailand by 113 runs, Manuka Oval, Canberra

South Africa 195-3, 20 overs (Lizelle Lee 101, Sune Luus 61 not out; Ratanporn Padunglerd 1-19)

Thailand 82 all out, 19.1 overs (Onnicha Kamchomphu 26; Shabnim Ismail 3-8, Sune Luus 3-15)

Tornadoes Women captain Sophie Devine called right at the toss and asked the Falcons to bat first before the Tornadoes had the Falcons reeling at 59-4 in the 10^th over.

An unbeaten 92-run fifth wicket partnership between South African Marizanne Kapp (67 not out) and Hong Kong’s Mariko Hill (30 not out) then propelled the Falcons to a respectable 151-4 off their 20 overs.

Thailand’s Chanida Sutthiruang led the bowling for the Tornadoes with 2-19 from three overs.

The Tornadoes completed the chase without stress as captain Sophie Devine (51) and Sterre Kalis (44) shared in an opening partnership of 76 before Stafanie Taylor (34 not out) and South African Sune Luus (18 not out) steered them to 152-2 with five balls to spare.

Batting first, the West Indies scored a paltry 174 all out from 49.2 overs. In reply, SAW cruised to 175-4 in 39.5 overs.

For the consecutive match, Kycia Knight top-scored for the West Indies with 48 while Deandra Dottin was once again among the runs with 36. However, the other West Indies Women, who were without captain Stafanie Taylor, failed to step up as only Shemaine Campbell and newcomer Mandy Mangru, with 15 each managed to get into double figures.

Shabnim Ismail was the spearhead of the South African attack with 4-44. There were two wickets each for Ayabonga Khaka (2-25) and Chloe Tryon (2-12) from just six overs.

South Africa’s victorious chase was led by Andrie Steyn who scored a solid 52 while Captain Sune Luus was once again among the runs with 47.

Anisa Mohammed was the best of the West Indies bowlers with 2-31 from nine overs.