Captain Laura Wolvaardt was in fine form for the Proteas Women in the third T20I against India at the Wanderers.
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Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus combined for a record 183-run partnership to complete the highest-ever run chase by a South African team, which also sealed the series in the third T20I at the Wanderers on Wednesday evening.
It certainly was a night of records at the Bullring with the Proteas skipper's 115 (53 balls, 14x4, 5x6) cementing her legendary status within South African cricket.
Wolvaardt plundered a 23-ball fifty - the fastest ever by a Proteas Women’s batter - before utilising just a further 24 balls to bring up the third T20I century of her career off only 47 balls. It bettered her own 54-ball ton against Ireland in December to now hold the record for both milestones.
Luus (64 not out; 42 balls) played her role too with the Proteas opening pair bludgeoning 183 runs for the first wicket - eclipsing their own 176-run stand for the second wicket in the same match against the Irish at Newlands.
Their dominance at the crease ensured the Proteas cakewalked a run-chase that had looked ominous at the interval when India posted an imposing 192/4, courtesy of their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 66 off 38 balls.
Coach Mandla Mashimbyi had been unsure of his opening pair for the upcoming T20 World Cup heading into this series, but it would be safe to assume that Wolvaardt and Luus have now closed off that discussion.
The record stand at the Wanderers was the pair’s second consecutive partnership in excess of a 100.
India would no doubt rue dropping Wolvaardt on 31 and 85, especially with the chances being spilled by their two most senior players Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.
But the good fortune should take nothing away from the entertainment provided for the loyal fans that had stayed on despite the start having been delayed by 30 minutes earlier in the evening due to lightning.
From thereon the only thunderous sounds heard at the Bullring was the sound of the ball speeding off Wolvaardt’s blade.
The Proteas skipper attacked both pace and spin, and struck the ball powerfully down the ground, and she will take particular pleasure with her six-hitting ability that yielded five maximums on the night. There were also 14 spectacular boundaries.
Luus, meanwhile, is relishing her new role, with the former captain content to play second fiddle in the Powerplay before hauling out her own array of attacking strokes, especially against the spinners square of the wicket after the fielding restrictions have drawn to her close.
Finishing the game in style with a maximum illustrated her new-found confidence.
Although the Proteas bowling unit suffered at the death with India blasting 49 runs off the final five overs, there was significant improvement in the Powerplay as India only managed 51 even though Mandhana (37) and Shifali Verma (64) looked to attack from the outset.
The Proteas will now have an opportunity to test a few combinations with the series closed out already in the two remaining matches at the Wanderers (Saturday) and Benoni (Monday).
SCORECARD
India: 192/4 (Harmanpreet 66, Verma 64, Mlaba 2/31)
Proteas Women: 193/1 (Wolvaardt 115, Luus 64*)
Proteas won by 9 wickets, seal series 3-0