Laura Wolvaardt’s 149 allowed the Proteas Women to score the highest-ever score in their ODI history, as they thrashed Ireland by 178 runs.
Wolvaardt, at only 18 years of age, now has two ODI centuries to her name, and her run-a-ball 149 was the second-highest in Proteas Women history, just four runs shy of Johmari Logtenberg’s 153 against the Netherlands in 2007.
It was a crushing display from the ladies, who now have three wins and a defeat to their names in the Quadrangular series, after beating Zimbabwe in their opener and losing to India earlier in the week. Their next opponents are Zimbabwe again on Monday.
Wolvaardt was able to build up numerous partnerships, which helped her to her career-best score, as Lizelle Lee blasted 40 off 36, before Trisha Chetty scored 70 in a 179-run stand with Wolvaardt. Their 337-5 was the 10th highest score of all time, and comfortably surpassed the 283-7 they amassed against the same opposition in August last year.
Ireland had no intention whatsoever of attempting to chase down the total, and looked comfortable simply to see out the 50 overs. Shabnim Ismail sent down three maidens from her six overs to finish with figures of 1-5, while Sune Luus impressed with 2-27 from her 10. Ireland managed to avoid getting bowled out, but still only managed to post 159-8 from their allotted overs.
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images
