Proteas Women's captain Laura Wolvaardt receives an award after the fifth T20I in Benoni.
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Laura Wolvaardt is breaking records almost at will, but she knows she can’t do it all by herself if the Proteas Women’s are to take the final step at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Wolvaardt amassed 330 runs at an average of 82.50 in the five-match series against India - the most by any batter ever in the women’s game - and naturally the Proteas claimed the series 4-1. It was only the Proteas’ second bilateral T20I series triumph over the ODI world champions.
Just last month, the Proteas toured New Zealand. Wolvaardt scored 150 runs at an average of 51.33 - a very decent return but not world-beating - and the tourists suffered a 4-1 reversal.
It does not take Einstein to decipher that Wolvaardt’s form is inherently linked to the Proteas results.
But even Wolvaardt, who is among the smartest cricketers on the circuit, cannot explain the contrast between her outstanding form here in South Africa compared to the tour of New Zealand, although she does believe the home conditions may have favoured her a bit.
"I am very happy with my form at the moment," Wolvaardt said after her unbeaten 92 in Benoni.
"I want to say that I did get the best of conditions, won all the tosses, was able to chase under lights in the first four games and batted first today (Sunday) on a slow-ish wicket
"I think after a tough tour to New Zealand, it's been really nice to turn it around. I can't really tell you what's changed that much.
"I think that's the funny thing about cricket is in New Zealand, I was 9 off 16 in the one game and today (Sunday) I'm batting quite a lot better and don't really know why."
Wolvaardt’s contribution to the 23-run victory that closed off the India series was scoring close to 60% of the Proteas’ 155/6. The next best was her opening partner Sune Luus’ 23, who also had the good fortune of being dropped twice in her brief stay at the crease.
The skipper knows for the Proteas to post consistently competitive totals, she will need more support.
"I think obviously losing wickets at the other end sort of builds a bit of dots at the other end and then I'm stuck at the other side," Wolvaardt said.
"I think some of our goals are obviously to have an in-batter at the end and to have big partnerships. I think maybe we lacked a bit in the partnerships department."
The Proteas open their ICC T20 World Cup campaign against Australia in Manchester on Saturday, 13 June.