Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits scored centuries as the Proteas Women beat Bangladesh by 216 runs in the ODI series decider in Benoni on Saturday.

Player of the Series Wolvaardt struck 126 off 134 balls (13 fours, one six) while Player of the Match Brits recorded her maiden ODI hundred with 118 off 124 deliveries (eight fours, two sixes).

Their 243-run opening partnership – a Proteas Women record – enabled the hosts to post 316-4.

South Africa then bowled Bangladesh out for 100 in 31.1 overs to secure a 2-1 series win.

The Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first in sweltering conditions at Willowmoore Park.

The openers laid the ideal platform for the hosts, with Wolvaardt reaching a fifth career ton off 120 deliveries before the team reached 200 in the 39th over.

For the second time in the 2023-24 season, two Proteas Women batters made hundreds in the same match as Brits celebrated her first ODI century off 113 balls.

Wolvaardt and Brits then broke the previous South African opening partnership record of 209 between Andrie Steyn and Suné Luus.

The historic stand eventually came to an end when Wolvaardt played onto her stumps off a Marufa Akter delivery. Brits was then trapped lbw by Ritu Moni to leave South Africa on 251-2 in the 44th over.

Anneke Bosch (28* off 19 balls) and Luus (34 off 17) went about their business in belligerent fashion as the pair added 47 runs for the third wicket, before the latter was dismissed by Rabeya Khan.

While Nadine de Klerk fell to Khan for a first-ball duck, the Proteas went on to post their third best total in ODI cricket.

Bangladesh made a stuttering start with the bat as Marizanne Kapp (2-21) and Ayabonga Khaka (3-15) struck crucial blows to leave the visitors reeling on 28-4 after 6.2 overs.

Fahima Khatun (15) and Moni (33) combined for 36 runs before the former was trapped lbw by Eliz-Mari Marx. De Klerk then ran out out young all-rounder Shorna Akter (one) with a direct hit.

De Klerk (3-10) picked up three late wickets while Khaka took her third as the Proteas secured their third-best winning margin in ODI cricket.

The Proteas Women are now joint-top of the 2022-25 ICC Women’s Championship alongside Australia with 18 points from 12 matches.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images