A Lizelle Lee-inspired Proteas outfit blasted to the top spot of the Group B ladder with a clinical 113-run win over Thailand at Manuka Oval on Friday.

Lee scored a sparkling 101 off 60 balls in her maiden T20 international hundred, powering South Africa to a record setting 195-3 total.

The World Cup record was previously held by India, who scored 194-5 against New Zealand in 2018.

It wasn't the only record set at Manuka Oval this week. The 5614-strong crowd who turned out for Australia's 86-run win over Bangladesh marked the highest for a women's cricket match in Canberra.

The victory put Australia's title defence back on track, setting up a potential do-or-die clash with New Zealand in Melbourne on Monday.

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India have already secured their semi-finals spot following a three-run win over the White Ferns, but the two Group B spots are yet to be determined.

The unbeaten Proteas are on track for a finals berth after upsetting England in their opening match.

"Every game is a must-win for us," Lee said.

"I'm just happy to get some runs on the board and making sure our team wins."

Back-to-back fours brought up Lee's century in the 16th over, but the 27-year-old mis-timed a Suleeporn Laomi delivery to be caught the very next ball.

Her exit ended a 131-run second-wicket partnership with Sune Luus, but the latter guided the Proteas through the back end of the innings with an unbeaten 61 from 41.

"We didn't have a good power play, we were a few runs short and decided we had to get to 100 in the 13th over," Lee said.

"We just tried to stick to the plan and it paid off. We tried to accelerate from that moment.

"It's good to get a few runs on the board and my confidence back."

Shabnim Ismail took centre stage with the ball and took a hat-trick to leave Thailand sweating on 3-14 in the third over. Trisha Chetty stumped opener Natthakan Chantam for six, before Koncharoenaki and Chaiwai were bowled in succession for a duck.

But the Proteas were left to rue four dropped catches and a wrist injury to Chloe Tryon, before finishing Thailand for 82 runs in 19.1 overs.

"Our fielding was very ppor, so hopefully we'll do better in the next game," Lee said.

"We know we're a great fielding unit, normally there's a game like this somewhere along the lines. I'm just happy it's gone now.

"I think our bowlers did extremely well restricting Thailand to that total and the batters who came in, Sune and Chloe, did their job."

AT A GLANCE: T20 World Cup

SOUTH AFRICA 195-3 (Lizelle Lee 101, Sune Luus 61*, Ratanaporn Padunglerd 1-19), bt THAILAND 9-82 (Onnicha Kamchampu 26, Shabnim Ismail 3-8, Sune Luus 3-15) at Manuka Oval.