South Africa claimed a dominant 105-run win over Ireland in the first women’s T20I at Newlands on Friday.
Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 115 off just 56 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes, in a record 176-run stand with Suné Luus, who dispatched 12 boundaries, including one maximum, on her way to a personal-best 81 off 51 balls as the Proteas Women posted their highest T20I total of 220-2.
Luus then continued her outstanding day with the ball, taking 4-22 in four overs to spearhead a clinical fielding display that dismissed Ireland for 115 inside 18 overs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Proteas Women suffered an early setback when Jane Maguire (1-52) removed opener Faye Tunnicliffe for one in the second over. But that was the last moment of joy for Ireland for some time as Wolvaardt, batting at No 3, joined Luus to take the game away from the visitors.
Wolvaardt ignited the innings with a blistering start, racing to the fastest half-century by a Proteas Women player, reaching 50 in just 24 balls. While the captain found boundaries with ease, Luus accelerated towards her own fifty as South Africa maintained a scoring rate of 10 an over.
Wolvaardt went on to bring up her second T20I hundred before Ava Canning (1-33) finally broke the stand by removing Luus in the 18th over, ending the Proteas’ highest T20I partnership and leaving them 180-2.
Dané van Niekerk, making her return to international cricket, joined Wolvaardt and added a quickfire 21*.
Ireland’s chase faltered immediately as Luus struck twice in the opening over, removing Amy Hunter for one and Orla Prendergast for two to leave the visitors on 4-2.
A 42-run stand between skipper Gaby Lewis (30) and Leah Paul (34) offered brief resistance, lifting Ireland to 46-2 before Chloé Tryon (2-14) broke through by dismissing Lewis.
Paul soon departed as Nondumiso Shangase (1-13) tightened South Africa’s grip at 77-4.
With key batters gone, Ireland’s lower order crumbled as Luus, Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-9) shared the last six wickets for just 38 runs to bowl Ireland out for 115 and seal a commanding victory with 12 balls to spare.
The second T20I takes place at Boland Park on Sunday.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
