Laura Wolvaardt hammers fastest WT20I century for South Africa: Details
What's the story
South African team captain Laura Wolvaardt, on Friday, smashed the fastest Women's T20I century by a Proteas batter. She achieved the milestone in the first match of a three-match series against Ireland, held in Cape Town. Batting first, Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 115 off just 56 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes. The star opener completed her hundreds off just 52 balls. Here are her stats.
Match details
Wolvaardt's innings leads South Africa to record total
Wolvaardt's explosive innings helped South Africa post a mammoth total of 220/2 in their 20 overs, their highest ever in women's T20Is. The previous record was 205/1 against New Zealand in Potchefstroom back in 2010. Sune Luus also contributed with a blistering knock of her own, scoring an impressive 81 off just 51 balls. Former skipper Dane van Niekerk made a fiery eight-ball 21* in her maiden international appearance after over four years.
New record
Wolvaardt's record-breaking century surpasses Lee's previous record
Wolvaardt's century came off just 52 balls, breaking Lizelle Lee's previous record of a 59-ball hundred against Thailand at the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup. This makes her the fastest woman to score a T20I century for South Africa. Globally, she now ranks joint-12th among women with the fastest T20I centuries, with West Indies's Deandra Dottin holding the world record for her 38-ball ton against South Africa in 2010.
Recent performance
Wolvaardt's recent form and international record
Wolvaardt had a stellar run as the leading run-scorer in this year's Women's ODI World Cup, where South Africa finished second. Her last five international innings read an impressive 90, 31, 169, 101, and now this unbeaten 115. With this innings against Ireland, she also became one of only 10 Full Member batters to have scored multiple women's T20I hundreds.
Stats
Most WT20I runs for SA
According to ESPNcricinfo, Wolvaardt remains the only player with over 2,000 runs for South Africa in WT20Is. She tops the list with 2,203 runs from 84 matches at an average of 36.71 (SR: 117.80). She now owns two tons and 12 half-centuries. Her maiden WT20I hundred came against Sri Lanka in Benoni last year.