Laura Wolvaardt and Karabo Meso shared an unbroken 173-run second-wicket partnership as they catapulted South Africa Women to 200/1 in their T20I contest against Zimbabwe Women at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday afternoon. Zimbabwe needs 201 balls to win.
Wolvaardt, who won the toss and chose to bat first, made a brilliant return to form with an unbeaten 126 from 62 balls (16x4s, 4x6s). This is Wolvaardt's fourth T20I century. She faced 54 balls to get to the milestone. The 27-year-old broke her 13-match run without a milestone with a well-constructed innings. The South African captain showed her destructive side by pummelling 26 runs off her opposite number, Nomvelo Sibanda, in the 16th over. Wolvaardt, whose previous career-best T20I score was 115 runs, passed that mark with a boundary.
Wolvaardt shared a sensational partnership with Karabo Meso, who recorded her maiden T20I half-century. The 18-year-old faced 50 deliveries to get to the milestone. She finished the innings with her unbeaten 50 from 51 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter was circumspect through the early parts of her innings. The 18-year-old played with minimal risk and was happy to give the strike to her captain.
South Africa did not get bat on ball much, but were on 20/0 after two overs thanks to the numerous extras gifted to them by their hosts. However, the hosts pulled things back with a wicket in the next over. Lorraine Makusha, who dislodged Laura Wolvaardt in the powerplay in the series opener, accounted for Maine Smit. The dismissal brought Wolvaardt and Karabo Meso together. The duo helped South Africa to their highest powerplay score in the series.
South Africa scored 48/1 and 45/1 after the first six overs in the first two games. In this contest, they finished the powerplay on 53/1. The duo was largely untroubled and shepherded the visitors to 85/1 at the halfway point of the innings. The pair unleashed their full might on the Zimbabwe bowlers in the second half of the innings, scoring 115 runs in the next 10 overs,
Tendai Makusha was the only successful bowler for Zimbabwe in the innings. She claimed a single wicket for 48 runs in four overs. Nyasha Gwanzura was the most economical. She conceded 25 runs in four overs at a rate of 6.25 runs an over.
ZIMBABWE: Nyasha Gwanzura, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Kelis Ndlovu, Loreen Tshuma, Beloved Biza, Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Loryn Phiri, Christina Mutasa, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda (capt), Tendai Makusha.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Miané Smit, Karabo Meso (wk), Faye Tunnicliffe, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Nondumiso Shangase, Eliz-Mari Marx, Luyanda Nzuza, Seshnie Naidu, Ayanda Hlubi.