Back-to-back Lee century ends Strikers' title defence

A blistering Lizelle Lee has backed up a record century with another ton, becoming the first player to score hundreds in consecutive WBBL matches.

The Hobart Hurricanes opener whacked 103 off 59 deliveries as her side beat a struggling Adelaide Strikers outfit by 28 runs on Wednesday night. 

Lee's knock, which featured 13 fours and four sixes, came after she notched the highest-ever WBBL score of 150 not out against the Perth Scorchers on Sunday. 

Hobart posted 2-191 at the recently renamed Ninja Stadium and restricted the last-placed Strikers to 3-163 to jump to the top of the ladder with three matches in hand before finals.

South Africa's Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2022, had to change bats after hitting a six in the second over.

She was dropped twice in the 20s off the spin of Anesu Mushangwe in the fourth over and made the Strikers pay dearly.

The 32-year-old brought up her half century off just 35 balls with a maximum before reaching triple figures in the 14th over with a boundary. 

Lee was run out in the next over at the non-striker's end after a ball touched bowler Jemma Barsby's hand and ricocheted into the stumps. 

Across the past two matches, Lee has hit 253 off 134 balls with 25 fours and 16 sixes. 

She was supported well by Nicola Carey, who made an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, and skipper Elyse Villani's 23 not out from 14 at the death. 

Smriti Mandhana (51 off 32) got Adelaide's chase off to a flying start, but when the Indian international fell to Lauren Smith in the eighth over, her side's chances dipped. 

Young leg-spinner Amy Smith put the breaks on the Strikers in the middle overs and finished with an impressive 1-16 from four overs. 

Adelaide's South African import Laura Wolvaardt was unbeaten with 63 off 40 but it wasn't enough. 

The Hurricanes (4-3) and Strikers (1-6) meet again on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.

Weber WBBL|10 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Melbourne Renegades Women REN	10	7	3	0	0	0.527	0	14
2 Sydney Thunder Women THU	10	6	3	0	1	-0.002	0	13
3 Brisbane Heat Women HEA	9	6	3	0	0	0.276	0	12
4 Hobart Hurricanes Women HUR	10	5	5	0	0	0.189	0	10
5 Perth Scorchers Women SCO	10	4	5	1	0	-0.171	0	9
6 Sydney Sixers Women SIX	9	3	4	1	1	-0.367	0	8
7 Adelaide Strikers Women STR	10	3	6	0	1	-0.357	0	7
8 Melbourne Stars Women STA	10	2	7	0	1	-0.205	0	5

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points