Laura Wolvaardt delivered a masterclass with the bat, striking a brilliant century to steer the Proteas Women to a commanding win over India in the third T20 International in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Set 193 to win, Wolvaardt and Suné Luus guided their side to a nine-wicket win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Wolvaardt scored a career-best 115 off 53 balls, including 14 fours and five sixes, breaking the record for the fastest century by a South African woman in the format.
Laura Wolvaardt does it again 🤩🇿🇦
She picks up the fastest-ever century for the Proteas Women ©️🔥#SAvIND | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/jFSt4zj6Kg
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 22, 2026
Luus was unbeaten on 64 off 42 deliveries (6 fours, 2 sixes), as the hosts completed their highest successful chase after India posted 192/4.
India’s total was built on half-centuries from Shafali Verma (64) and Harmanpreet Kaur (66).
South Africa won the toss and asked India to bat and openers Smriti Mandhana (37) and Verma combined to take their side to 51/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Their stand was broken in the ninth over when Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/31) struck twice in consecutive deliveries, removing Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) to reduce the tourists to 68/2.
Despite the setback, Verma continued to lead the charge, combining with captain Kaur for a 73-run partnership.
Verma brought up her 16th T20I half-century as India crossed the 100-run mark in the 12th over.
A clinical performance from the Proteas Women 👏
They win the T20I series against India 3-0 🇿🇦🏆#SAvIND | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/UGznkXf3OF
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 22, 2026
South Africa’s next breakthrough finally came off the bowling of Nadine de Klerk (1/27), with Verma caught in the deep in the 16th over with the score 141/3.
Following her dismissal, Kaur found support from Richa Ghosh (18*), with the pair adding a valuable 51 runs late in the innings. Kaur raised her bat for a 16th T20I half-century before being run out on the final ball, as India posted a challenging total.
In reply, the Proteas Women made a blistering start. Led by Wolvaardt, the hosts raced to 72/0 in the powerplay, with the captain striking a 23-ball fifty – the fastest by a Proteas Woman in the format.
Despite the field spreading, Wolvaardt and Luus showed no signs of slowing, reaching 115/0 at the halfway mark.
Maintaining a scoring rate above 10 an over, the pair continued to dominate, with Luus bringing up her eighth T20I half-century before Wolvaardt followed with the quickest century by a South African woman and the joint third-fastest in women’s T20I cricket.
With both batters in full control and victory in sight, the pair added another milestone, registering South Africa’s highest partnership for any wicket in the format (183) before Wolvaardt was eventually dismissed in the 16th over by Shreyanka Patil (1/30).
Luus then sealed the win with a six to secure victory and the series with 21 balls remaining on a historic night for the Proteas.
The fourth T20I takes place at the Wanderers on Saturday.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
