Tunnicliffe leads Proteas charge

A maiden T20 International half-century from Faye Tunnicliffe led the South African Ladies to 201 for five against Ireland Women in the second T20 International at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday afternoon.

Tunnicliffe, who was dropped on five, struck seven boundaries from 42 balls before being trapped leg before by Aimee Maguire (4-0-43-3) after Laura Wolvaardt had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Sune Luus (37) was instrumental in the first innings stand of 78 from 60 balls as the opener struck six fours in her 24-ball stay. She was the first wicket to fall, slicing a full-toss from Maguire to Rebecca Stockell at short-third.

All the Proteas ladies contributed to the second-highest total of the series with Wolvaardt herself striking four boundaries during a 16-ball stay at the crease before edging Maguire through to wicketkeeper Amy Hunter.

Dane van Niekerk, who scored a 51-ball 81 on Friday, continued where she left off, cracking the ball to all parts of the Winelands ground and on track to register the fastest T20 International fifty by a South African but her eagerness got the better of her as she was trapped lbw by Arlene Kelly (4-0-40-1) for 41 from just 19 balls, an innings that included three fours and three sixes.

Marizanne Kapp (16) struck two fours and a six from eight balls before being bowled by Orla Prendergast (4-0-29-1) leaving Chloe Tryon (16 not out) and Nadine de Klerk (7 not out) to finish off the innings.

Tryon struck the final ball of the innings, bowled by Kelly, down the ground for six to bring up the 200 on the board after Kelly had restricted the Proteas ladies to just five runs from five balls.

Van Niekerk was so aggressive during her stand with Kapp for the fourth wicket, that the pair needed just 22 balls for their 47 runs.

Ireland will need a miracle to reach 202 on a ground that naturally plays slower as the day goes on, after being bowled out for 115 on Friday.

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN – Faye Tunnicliffe, Suné Luus, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Dané van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Chloé Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

IRELAND WOMEN – Amy Hunter (wk), Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast, Leah Paul, Laura Delany, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Ava Canning, Alana Dalzell, Cara Murray, Aimee Maguire.