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In the opening T20I of the Sri Lanka Women’s tour of South Africa 2024, the home team put on a dominant display at Willowmoore Park. The Proteas Women were all over the Islanders as they registered a victory by 79 runs.
Laura Wolvaardt gains attention with a stunning century
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka Women elected to bowl first, aiming to restrict the hosts’ batting lineup. However, South Africa Women’s innings started with a bang as their top-order batswomen displayed remarkable prowess with the bat.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt starred with an exceptional century, scoring 102 runs off just 63 deliveries, including 12 fours and 3 sixes, laying a solid foundation for her team. She was well-supported by the veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who contributed a blazing 60 off 40 balls, and Tazmin Brits, who added a quickfire 15 off 8 balls. The South African innings culminated at an imposing total of 198/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Disciplined bowling keep Sri Lanka batters at bay
In response, Sri Lanka Women faced a daunting chase. Despite efforts from Harshitha Samarawickrama, who scored 38 off 33 balls, and Hasini Perera, who contributed 30 off 18 balls, the visiting team struggled to keep up with the required run rate.
The South African bowlers put up a disciplined performance, with Tumi Sekhukhune and Annerie Dercksen leading the attack, claiming two wickets each. Sri Lanka Women were eventually bundled out for 119 runs in 18.2 overs, falling short by 79 runs.
For her outstanding century, Wolvaardt was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match. With this commanding victory, South Africa Women have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, setting the stage for an exciting contest in the matches to come.
Also READ: South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2024, Women’s T20I series – Date, Match, Time, Venue, Squads, Broadcast and Live Streaming details
Here is how Twitter reacted:
PROTEAS WOMEN TAKE THE LEAD 🇿🇦
Laura Wolvaardt’s 💯 inspired the Proteas Women to a scintillating victory over Sri Lanka in Benoni 🏏
What did you make of the performance? 😅💭#WozaNawe #BePartOfi #SAWvSRIW pic.twitter.com/1PiETHm6A8
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 27, 2024
Laura Wolvaardt with an amazing hundred. Amazing to watch. 100 from 61 balls. #SAvSL #ProteaFire
— Damian Heinz (@DamianHeinz) March 27, 2024
Not the start we wanted in the 1st T20I! South Africa Women take the first game by 79 runs. #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/zpc58a4ABa
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 28, 2024
Who taught Laura Wolvaardt how to bat? Yases what an innings, a hundred in a T20 game! She deserved back shots after the game 😌🙂🔥🔥🔥
— Andile Manong (@Beeds822) March 28, 2024
Players to Score a Century as a Captain in both WODIs & WT20Is
– Meg Lanning 🇦🇺– Suzie Bates🇳🇿– Chamari Athapaththu 🇱🇰– Sophie Devine 🇳🇿– Heather Knight 🏴– Harmanpreet Kaur 🇮🇳– Hayley Matthews 🏝– LAURA WOLVAARDT 🇿🇦#SAvSL #SAWvSLW pic.twitter.com/rdM2SZUNdt
— Kishan Kishor (@itskishankishor) March 28, 2024
Player of the match: Laura Wolvaardt 🏏#women #cricket #LauraWolvaardt #SAvSL #southafricacricket #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/8gA6wGqmHk
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) March 28, 2024
Highest Score as Captain against each team in Women’s T20I :
v 🏴 – Meg Lanning (133*)v 🇦🇺 – Hayley Matthews (132)v 🇮🇪 – Lanning (126)v 🇿🇦 – Suzie Bates (124*)v 🇹🇭 – Heather Knight (108*)v 🇳🇿 – Harmanpreet Kaur (103)v 🇱🇰 – LAURA WOLVAARDT (102)*
(1/2)#SAvSL | #SAvsSL
— Krish (@LuciferStan07) March 27, 2024
Still early days but Laura Wolvaardt has quite enjoyed captaincy so far
Among Full Member captains who have batted in at least 10 T20Is, her average of 59.25 is comfortably the best
Next best is Meg Lanning with 42.24#SAvSL
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) March 27, 2024
Laura Wolvaardt’s first WT20I century helps the @ProteasWomenCSA to a huge victory in Benoni 🇿🇦🌟#HereForHer | #WozaNawe | #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/r37YhqvAwj
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 27, 2024
A fantastic hundred @LauraWolvaardt @ProteasWomenCSA some serious shots played @Megapro_SA pic.twitter.com/U5st6Yy47K
— Ekkers (@ekkers_sa) March 27, 2024
What an innings @LauraWolvaardt 👏👏👏#SAvSL
— Sandesh (@sandymys) March 27, 2024
Wonderful innings by Laura Wolvaardt today…
She was 54 in 44 balls I think and then reached to hundred in 61 balls with unsurprisingly…a Cover Drive! pic.twitter.com/lTnBlnF8lA
— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) March 27, 2024
Also READ: Twitter reactions: Kim Garth’s sensational bowling drives Australia to whitewash Bangladesh in Women’s ODI series
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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