Nonkululeko Mlaba’s Personal Details:
Full Name: Nonkululeko Mlaba
Date of Birth: 27 June 2000
Batting Style: Right-hand batter
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Playing Role: Bowler
Nonkululeko Mlaba is one of the best spin bowlers in South African women’s cricket. She is known for her calm bowling, accuracy, and ability to take wickets in important matches. Even at a young age, she has already become a key player in South Africa’s bowling attack.
Mlaba made her international debut for South Africa in 2019 and quickly became an important member of the team. Her rise in international cricket has been very fast, and before turning 25, she had already taken more than 100 international wickets.
She plays domestic cricket for KwaZulu-Natal Women and has represented South Africa in all formats. Her left-arm spin bowling has helped South Africa in many important matches over the last few years.
One of the biggest moments of her career came in December 2024 during the Test match against England in Bloemfontein. Mlaba became the first South African woman cricketer to take ten wickets in a Test match. It was a historic achievement and showed her quality as a match-winning spinner.
Nonkululeko Mlaba’s T20I Career
Nonkululeko Mlaba made her T20I debut for South Africa against India on 24 September 2019. Since then, she has become one of South Africa’s leading bowlers in T20 cricket.
So far, she has played 77 T20I matches and taken 72 wickets. Her best bowling figures in the format are 4 wickets for 29 runs, which came against West Indies during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Mlaba played a major role in helping South Africa reach the final of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. She finished the tournament with 12 wickets at an average of 11.33 and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition.
She is known for staying calm under pressure and bowling accurate overs during important moments of the game.
Nonkululeko Mlaba’s T20 Career
Mlaba has also become an important player in domestic and franchise T20 cricket. Her left-arm spin bowling makes her very useful in the middle overs, where she often controls the run rate and takes key wickets.
She has regularly performed well for KwaZulu-Natal Women and continues to improve as an all-round cricketer. Even though bowling is her main strength, she can also score useful runs lower down the order when needed.
Her disciplined bowling and ability to perform in pressure situations have made her one of South Africa’s most trusted T20 bowlers.
Recent Form Ahead of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Nonkululeko Mlaba has continued her good form before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. In the recent T20I series against India Women in April 2026, she picked up important wickets and bowled some economical spells.
In the final match of the series in Benoni, she took 2 wickets for 15 runs and helped South Africa control the game. Across the series, she showed her consistency and control with the ball.
With her experience, calm mindset, and wicket-taking ability, Nonkululeko Mlaba will be one of South Africa’s key bowlers in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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