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Record-breaking Proteas seal series win

cricket16 December 2025 15:31| © MWP
By:Antoinette Muller
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Proteas © Getty Images

South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in their women’s ODI series against Ireland, thanks to a 74-run win in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

The Proteas blazed their way to 375-6 thanks to twin centuries from captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, complemented by a brilliant display of ball striking from Dane van Niekerk (88 off 47).

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It was a batting performance that smashed their previous ODI record, set against the same opponents back in 2017.

The Irish battled gamely in response as a fine 97 off 86 balls from Orla Prendergast kept them in the hunt, but it proved an impossible task as their search for a win on tour goes on.

Wolvaardt (124 off 111) led typically from the front with her 12th ODI century, while Luus maintained her own impeccable form in reaching 114 off 113.

Wolvaardt went to her 39th career half-century off 56 balls, not to mention 1 000 ODI runs in the calendar year, with a signature off drive as the Proteas took charge.

Then Luus registered her second successive half century to back up her matchwinning 66 not out in East London, with Wolvaardt reaching her ton by swatting a full toss to long leg for four.

She was well set to unleash absolute carnage until she was caught on the long off boundary by an almightily relieved Rebecca Stokell, giving Aimee Maguire her second wicket.

Van Niekerk entered the fray and continued her international comeback with an eye-catching display of power hitting, including a launched six off the wilting Prendergast.

She had two lives in the 42nd over, dropped badly on the slog sweep by Leah Paul before another whack down the ground found the boundary sponge on the full after evading capture.

The 50 partnership came off 37 balls with Luus suddenly little more than a spectator.

Van Niekerk reached her own half century from just 32 balls, jogging through for a single with a thump of the Protea badge on her chest.

Then came Luus’s moment, clipping into the onside to reach her second one-day ton before perishing for the cause in the dying stages.

PRENDERGAST JUST MISSES OUT ON A TON

Eliz-Mari Marx then struck inside the first over as Ireland made a nightmare start to their response.

Sarah Forbes chopped the 22-year-old quick aerially to point, where debutant Leah Jones took a smart catch.

A tidy 62-1 at the end of the ten-over powerplay was a fine reward for the tourists but captain Gaby Lewis (45 off 52) was soon trudging off shaking her head, having pulled Nondumiso Shangase straight to Tazmin Brits in the deep.

A seventh career half century belonged to Hunter when she played ably down the ground, before the impressive Prendergast joined her on the landmark.

Shangase picked up her second wicket when she trapped Hunter dead in front for 64 off 66 balls.

And Jones claimed her first when she immediately removed Laura Delany, as keeper Karabo Meso took a smart catch down the legside.

Leah Paul was next to provide capable support to Prendergast as South Africa temporarily lost their discipline with both ball and in the field.

It came to a head in the 39th over when, with the chase still live, Lara Goodall dropped Paul at long leg before Miane Smit spilt Prendergast at deep midwicket.

But Marx redeemed the situation when Paul (36 off 36) skied one, with the young bowler turning and making ground to complete a smart catch on the tumble.

Faint Irish hopes were extinguished when Prendergast, one shot away from her century, despaired as her slog into the onside was caught by Luus.

Stokell was bowled by Sekhukhune before Luus had Jane Maguire caught by Smit.

The centurion had another catch when she clung on to dismiss Arlene Kelly (20 off 14) to give Jones (3-48) a second scalp, before the rookie had Murray caught behind to seal the deal.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus, Miane Smit, Dane van Niekerk, Karabo Meso (wk), Nondumiso Shangase, Eliz-Mari Marx, Leah Jones, Tumi Sekhukhune.

IRELAND: Sarah Forbes, Gaby Lewis (capt), Amy Hunter (wk), Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray, Jane Maguire, Aimee Maguire.

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