Laura Wolvaardt's masterclass seals clinical series whitewash
WOMEN'S ODI
Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt celebrates her century.
Image: Backpagepix
Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt capped off a historic year for South African cricket with a sublime, unbeaten century to lead the Proteas Women to a six-wicket victory over Ireland at the Wanderers on Friday night. The win confirms a 3-0 ODI series whitewash and serves as a formidable statement of intent ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Chasing a target of 206, the South African innings was defined by Wolvaardt’s technical excellence and ice-cold composure. While the top and middle order struggled to maintain momentum against a disciplined Irish attack, the skipper remained immovable.
The chase wasn't entirely smooth sailing. Tasmin Brits (26) and Sune Luus (25) provided starts but failed to convert, while young Karabo Meso contributed a valuable 17 before falling to Aimee Maguire. The Irish bowlers, led by Aimee Maguire (2/44) and Arlene Kelly (2/34), consistently applied pressure, claiming the prize wicket of Dané van Niekerk cheaply.
However, Wolvaardt’s 100 off 93 balls* anchored the chase, ensuring the Proteas crossed the line with overs to spare. Her tournament tally of 255 runs in just three matches earned her both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
Earlier in the day, the foundation for victory was laid by the bowlers. Nonkululeko Mlaba was the standout performer, dismantling the Irish middle order with a destructive spell of 4/33 in 9 overs. Her ability to extract turn and bounce on the Wanderers surface restricted Ireland to 205, despite a fighting 64 from Gaby Lewis.
Speaking after the match, Wolvaardt praised the squad's depth:
"I'm glad we finished strong. It’s been great to see so many players from around the country pick up their hands. A lot of them have been performing in domestic cricket, so it's nice to see them use this opportunity."
With Wolvaardt in the form of her life—having surpassed 1,000 ODI runs in 2025—and the bowling unit firing, the Proteas look like genuine contenders for the upcoming global showpiece.