South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt achieved a historic milestone as she became the youngest player to 100 ODI appearances in the ongoing multi-format series against England in the second ODI of the 3-match series.
Laura Wolvaardt is only the tenth Proteas Women to 100 ODIs and doing so at 25 years & 226 days, she became the youngest woman to the feat, surpassing India’s legendary batter Mithali Raj, who achieved this feat at 25 years & 273 days.
Despite this personal feat, the occasion was bittersweet as South Africa suffered a six-wicket defeat. She scored important 35 runs as South Africa’s batting crumbled and were bowled out for 135. England chased the target with ease to win by six wickets & square the series.
Laura Wolvaardt made her ODI debut at 16 against England in February 2016. From the outset, her technicality and scoring ability were evident as she scored her maiden ODI fifty in her second match against England. Her first century followed soon during South Africa’s tour to Ireland in July 2016 as she scored 105 marking her the youngest South African to score an ODI hundred.
Wolvaardt showcased remarkable consistency as it was in January 2018 she completed her 1000 ODI runs, also becoming the youngest South African to achieve this feat, doing so at the age of 17 years & 105 days.
Wolvaardt has also been a standout performer for the Proteas at the ODI World Cups, most notably in the 2022 ODI World Cup held in New Zealand, where she was South Africa’s leading run-scorer with 433 runs in eight matches with five fifties to her name.
It was in September 2023, that Wolvaardt stepped into the leadership role, announced as the all-format skipper of the Proteas Women. The added responsibility has only strengthened her batting resolve as she continues to be a vital part of South Africa’s batting line-up.
Currently ranked second among ODI batters, Wolvaardt has had an incredible 2024 year so far, having smashed three centuries, including her unbeaten 184 against Sri Lanka in April 2024 which is also her highest individual score in the 50-over format. She also completed 4000 ODI runs and was the youngest to this feat as well.
As South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODIs and a key figure in the cricketing globe, having amassed over 4200 runs in 100 ODIs which includes 33 fifties & eight centuries, Wolvaardt has already carved out a legacy. The future holds immense promise for the Proteas skipper as she carries forward hopes of South African cricket.
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