Proteas Women opt to bat against Ireland in Paarl

The South African Ladies have won the toss and have decided to bat first against the Ireland Ladies in the second Women’s T20 International at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.

The Proteas Women recorded their biggest margin of victory by runs on Friday over the Irish when they trounced their counterparts by 105 runs, eclipsing their previous best of 86 runs secured in Sylhet back in March 2014.

The win, which ended Ireland’s run of six consecutive victories in this format, was setup thanks to a brilliant and career-best, unbeaten 56-ball 115 from captain Laura Wolvaardt, which included 15 boundaries and four maximums, and opener Sune Luus’ 81 from 51 balls, with Luus striking 11 fours and a six as South Africa posted 220 for two in their 20 overs after Wolvaardt had won the toss, batting first.

In reply, Luus claimed 4-22 in four overs with support from spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-9) and Chloe Tryon (2-14) as Ireland were bundled out for just 115 with two overs still in the bank. Leah Paul top-scored for the visitors with 34, while opener and captain Gaby Lewis added 30.

Before Friday’s encounter, the Irish ladies had only played four times on South African soil – all in the one-day international format, losing three with one no result.

The Proteas ladies have only lost twice to Ireland – both in Dublin - their first being a 20-run defeat in August of 2016 and then again by 10 runs in June 2022.

Wolvaardt’s century in the first game was the second of her career, adding to her 12 half-centuries. The Proteas captain averages 36.71 and scores her runs at 117.8 per 100 balls. Luus’ 81 was also her career-best, registering her sixth fifty in the international format.

The big story of the day was the re-emergence of Dane van Niekerk, who last appeared for the Proteas in T20s back in September 2021. Van Niekerk showed what she still had to offer the Proteas Women, smashing four boundaries in eight balls to end unbeaten on 21.

Ireland rely heavily on captain Lewis, Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany, who are Ireland’s leading run scorers in the format. Lewis has 2 753 runs to her name, which includes two centuries and 17 fifties. Delany has scored four half-centuries, registering 1 611 runs, while Prendergast has scored 1 548 runs at the best strike-rate of 121, which includes nine fifties.

Victory for Wolvaardt’s side today would clinch the three-match series with a game to spare before heading into the three-match ODI series.

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.