Laura Wolvaardt produced a commanding innings to lead South Africa to a dominant win over India in the third T20I, scoring 115 off 53 balls in a successful chase of 193 that was completed with 21 deliveries to spare.
Opening the innings alongside Sune Luus, Wolvaardt set the tempo early as South Africa raced to 72 without loss in the Powerplay, their highest-ever total in the first six overs of a women’s T20I. She reached her half-century in just 23 balls, the quickest of her career, immediately shifting the pressure onto India in what initially looked like a challenging target.
Despite the rapid scoring, Wolvaardt emphasised the importance of staying composed throughout the innings. “We kept each other pretty calm out there. It’s new territory to find ourselves on 70-odd after the Powerplay but once we got that, we told each other we have to keep going,” she said, explaining how she and Luus maintained focus while sustaining the momentum.
The opening pair built a decisive 183-run stand, South Africa’s second-highest partnership for the first wicket in T20Is, effectively putting the result beyond doubt. Wolvaardt’s innings combined control with calculated aggression, ensuring the required rate remained manageable while consistently applying pressure on the bowlers.
Explaining the approach, she added, “We knew we had so much power in the dugout so we just had to get as much as we could. And then once we got out of the Powerplay, I just tried to win the game as quickly as I could.” Her acceleration through the middle overs ensured South Africa stayed well ahead in the chase before sealing victory with time to spare.
Wolvaardt also pointed to the favourable batting conditions, which she identified early. “I realised pretty early on that the ball was sliding on nicely. My main thought was to max the Powerplay and once we got out of the Powerplay, just try to stay with the rate. I knew chasing 190, we needed a pretty good start, so I just came out with a lot of intent. The wicket was nice and flat,” she said.
Looking ahead, she believes the team is building strong momentum while continuing to assess different match situations. “We are in a very good space. We are improving every single game. It is a good surface, and we have been getting the better of the tosses. Once we lose the toss and have to bat first, that will be a different story but that’s what this five-match series is for,” she said.
With this result, South Africa not only secured a bilateral series win over India but also strengthened their confidence ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. As their final assignment before the tournament in June, the series has provided valuable momentum and reinforced belief within the squad.
