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Wolvaardt leads from the front as South Africa beat Sri Lanka in first T20I

cricket27 March 2024 19:49| © MWP
By:Liryn de Jager
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A captain’s innings of 102 by Laura Wolvaardt laid the foundation for South Africa’s 79-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

The visitors were bowled out for 119 (18.2 overs) after the Proteas earlier amassed 198 for five.

Wolvaardt was also involved in a record 116-run second-wicket partnership with Marizanne Kapp who contributed 60 runs to the highest total ever scored at the ground.

Player of the match Wolvaardt was decidedly happy about her match-winning performance.

“It was a very special feeling indeed, I didn’t think it was on the cards today. The stand with Kappie helped keep me calm.

“There was a lot of conversation yesterday to start the series on a positive note and on the front foot and to keep on pushing.

“Overall it was a pretty good performance today.”

SRI LANKA SLUMP

Kapp followed up her destructive batting display with on-point bowling in the first over that saw the end of Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for one when Sinalo Jafta took the catch behind the wickets.

Sri Lanka were in trouble on 22 for two when Vishmi Gunaratne tried to take on a shorter delivery by Masabata Klaas.

She, however, found the safe hands of Annerie Dercksen and had to walk back for 8 (9b, 1x4).

With the score on 48 for two in the seventh over and with Sri Lanka needing 151 runs from 78 balls, rain forced players off the field for a while. Harshitha Samarawickrama was on 15 and Hasini Perera was on 19.

Shortly after play resumed, Nadine de Klerk claimed the wicket of Perera with Tazmin Brits taking the catch. The batter was out for 30 (18b, 5x4) and the scoreboard read 66 for three.

Kavisha Dilhari lost her wicket with the score on 80 when she couldn’t properly get hold of a Tumi Sekhukhune delivery. Klaas took the catch.

Sri Lanka lost their fifth wicket in the 13th over with the score on 97. Jafta took her second catch behind the wicket when Harshitha (38, 33b, 5x4) knicked one from Dercksen.

Nilakshika de Silva could only score two runs before she chopped a ball from Chloe Tryon onto her wickets.

Things went from bad to worse for Sri Lanka when they slumped to 101 for seven with the run-out of Achini Kulasuriya for one.

Sekhukhune picked up her second wicket with the lbw dismissal of Inoshi Priyadharshani for one.

The writing was on the wall when the visitors lost their ninth wicket with the score on 116 with the run-out of Anushka Sanjeewani for 14 (15b, 2x4).

Sri Lanka lost their last wicket with the departure of Inoka Ranaweera for one, caught and bowled by Dercksen.

POWERFUL HITTING

Earlier, Sri Lanka opened with spin with Athapaththu taking matters into her own hands after winning the toss.

South Africa lost their first wicket with the score on 25 when Brits had to depart for 15 runs of eight deliveries after she lobbed a Inoshi Priyadharshani delivery straight to Athapaththu.

Kapp joined Wolvaardt in the middle and it was a powerful hitting display by both batters.

A massive six by the Protea captain brought up the South African 50 in the sixth over, with the home team scoring 55 runs in the power play and only losing one wicket.

At the halfway mark of the innings, South Africa were on 80 for one with Wolvaardt on 40 and Kapp on 23. Two overs later they had pushed the score to 101 for one.

It took the pair only 71 balls to race to their 100 partnership for the second wicket.

Kapp had to walk back for 60 (40b, 4x4, 3x6) after Nilakshi de Silva took a comfortable catch from the bowling of Kulasuriya. South Africa were on 141 for two.

Taking her place before the wickets, Sune Luus became South Africa’s most-capped T20I player with 115 appearances for the Proteas.

Trying to push on and sneak in extra runs, she was run out for 14 and South Africa lost their third wicket with the score on 181.

With only three balls left, Wolvaardt struck a powerful four to bring up her first T20I 100 from only 61 balls.

She is only the third South African to achieve the milestone. She was bowled for 102 (63b, 12x4, 3x6) by Kulasuriya with the penultimate ball of the innings.

South Africa lost their fifth wicket when De Klerk was run out from the last ball.

The second T20I is on Saturday 30 March at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom with the third one set to take place on Wednesday 3 April at Buffalo Park in East London.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune.

SRI LANKA: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya.

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