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Proteas cruise to series clean sweep over Ireland

rugby19 December 2025 17:53| © MWP
By:Antoinette Muller
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Laura Wolvaardt © Getty Images

South Africa completed a 3-0 women’s one-day international series whitewash over Ireland, thanks to another demolition job in Johannesburg on Friday as they reached 206-4 to win by six wickets.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt yet again led the way with the bat, reaching her century with the winning run as the Proteas claimed victory under the floodlights at the Bullring in perfect style.

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Wolvaardt and opening partner Tazmin Brits made an ideal start to a modest chase, picking off the bad balls to register their 50 partnership inside seven overs as the lights began to take over.

But Brits (26 off 21 balls) fell when she edged a cut straight into the gloves of keeper Christina Reilly off the bowling of Arlene Kelly.

Back-to-back boundaries took Wolvaardt to her 39th ODI half century and beyond 200 runs in the three-match series.

And the 100 came up in the 15th over when Karabo Meso, promoted up the order, pinched a smart single as she settled into her groove.

But impatience got the better of the 18-year-old when she lurched down the track at the returning Aimee Maguire, with Reilly doing the honours with a clean stumping.

That brought in-form Sune Luus to the crease and she batted like she’d left the gas on, constantly looking to score from ball one.

It worked for a time but one heave to leg too many saw her stomping off, an outside edge caught well by Reilly, for 25 off 23 balls to make it 143-3.

Dane van Niekerk couldn’t repeat her pyrotechnics from Gqeberha on Tuesday either, carving straight to Aimee Maguire at point off a delighted Kelly for 10.

It may have caused a minor flutter among the remaining batters but, with Wolvaardt carrying along her merry way, Faye Tunnicliffe provided the stability needed to finish the job.

And it was a scampered single that sealed victory, as Wolvaardt further burnished her reputation as one of the best in the world.

MLABA SHINES WITH THE BALL

Earlier, the Proteas stuck to their task well with the ball under cloudy skies after being invited to bowl first, taking wickets at regular intervals to dismiss the tourists for 205 in the 46th over.

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-33, with Tumi Sekhukhune (2-27) providing ample support with her injury-disrupted eight-over stint.

Wolvaardt stationed herself in the familiar surroundings of extra cover and took a flying, right-handed catch to give Leah Jones her first wicket of the afternoon to leave Ireland 21-1.

Visiting skipper Gaby Lewis reached her 15th ODI half century in style, driving Luus on the up through extra cover.

But her partner Reilly was stumped by Sinalo Jafta off the bowling of Sekhukhune, ending a 99-run partnership at 120-2.

It sparked a mini collapse as two more wickets fell to Mlaba without addition to the scoreboard.

First she bamboozled Lewis (64 off 80) before having Laura Delany caught low at slip by Luus to complete a double wicket maiden.

Tuesday’s leading Irish player Orla Prendergast was caught for 21 as Tunnicliffe claimed her first international wicket.

Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell steadied the ship until the latter holed out to Luus at mid-on, as Sekhukhune returned from a bang on the knee to claim her second scalp.

That moment sparked the terminal collapse as Ireland lost their last five wickets for just 13 runs, leaving them well short of challenging their dominant hosts.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Karabo Meso, Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk, Faye Tunnicliffe, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Leah Jones, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayanda Hlubi, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

IRELAND: Sarah Forbes, Gaby Lewis (capt), Christina Coulter Reilly, Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Jane Maguire, Ava Canning, Aimee Maguire.

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