Proteas shatter another record against Ireland

South Africa are in complete command of the second women’s one-day international, setting Ireland 376 to keep the series alive in Gqeberha, breaking a record for their highest score in the format.

The Proteas blazed their way to 375 for six 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).

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

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.

Van Niekerk reflected on her barnstorming effort. “It’s amazing, everything’s a blessing at the moment," she said.

“I had a few angels around me with those catches that went down… I live by the sword, die by the sword and never thought about personal milestones.”

Jane Maguire had an early reward in the sixth over, trapping Tazmin Brits leg before to leave the home side 17 for one.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists, as a certain giddiness saw 30 runs come from the next three overs as Wolvaardt clicked ominously into gear.

She brought up the South African 50 in the 10th over with a thump down the ground, a delivery after Lara Goodall was put down by Prendergast at cover.

Goodall went for a run-a-ball 12 thanks to the introduction of Aimee Maguire, with the young left-arm spinner turning a beauty past the inside edge and clipping the top of off stump. But that only brought the in-form Luus to the crease.

The 29-year-old snapped straight into an ideal tempo - and struck the first six of the day with a confident swing down the ground off Maguire.

Then came the team 100 as Cara Murray sent down a wild set of deliveries that Luus fully tucked into.

Wolvaardt went to her 39th career half-century off 56 balls, not to mention 1000 ODI runs in the calendar year, with a signature off drive as the Proteas took charge.

INCREASINGLY RAGGED BOWLING

The partnership was flying, aided by some increasingly ragged bowling, but Wolvaardt was lucky to survive a run-out attempt from Irish captain Gaby Lewis that saw her well short of her ground after aborting an impossible single.

Lewis was forced to return to opening bowler Orla Prendergast.

But the tall seamer was taken for 12 as Luus and Wolvaardt brought up their 100 partnership off just 90 balls, marking the halfway point of the South African innings.

Then Luus, completely untroubled, registered her second successive half century to back up her match-winning 66 not out in East London. And Wolvaardt went to her ton by swatting a full toss to long leg for four, leaving Ireland staring down the barrel of a huge target.

She was well set to unleash absolute carnage until, with 124 to her name, she was caught on the long off boundary by a mightily 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 at long on.

The 50 partnership came off 37 balls with Luus little more than a spectator, and the Irish falling to pieces in the field.

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.

Up came the 350 in the 48th over as Luus carved cleanly through the covers before finally falling for 114, pouched at point by Aimee Maguire to give Arlene Kelly a wicket in her final over.

Rookie Miane Smit made just four before she holed out in the final over, with Van Niekerk perishing in the deep off the final ball for an outstanding 88.

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.