Nonkululeko Mlaba registered the best bowling figures for South Africa in a women’s Test match as the left-arm spinner scalped a ten-fer in the one-off Test against England.
In a sensational display of skill and determination, Mlaba etched her name in the history books by registering the best bowling figures for her country in a women’s Test match, surpassing Sunette Loubser. The left-arm spinner claimed ten wickets in the ongoing one-off Test against England at Bloemfontein, following this she became South Africa’s second leading wicket-taker in red-ball format.
England elected to bat first in the one-off Test against South Africa and got off to a respectable start. Mlaba earlier in the innings didn’t get a wicket but her first wicket came in the form after removing the debutant Maia Bouchier for 126, also breaking the 174-run stand between Bouchier and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Later on, she went on to dismiss Dani Wyatt-Hodge in the form of stumping with her second wicket coming in quick succession. She then dismissed Amy Jones’ for 39, rattling the stumps, to finish with figures of 4/90 in the first innings, also being the top bowler for the hosts.
England declared the innings with 395 on the board but the hosts fought back with 281 in the second innings. However, England were at advantage with a 114-run lead approaching in the third innings.
Mlaba set the stage for the hosts that put her in the spotlight as her first wicket in the second innings came after dismissing Nat Sciver-Brunt for 37 providing timely breakthroughs for the hosts.
Her remarkable discipline with the ball rewarded her in the form of wickets as she dismantled the English middle order, including the vital wicket of English skipper Heather Knight for 90. She returned with figures of 6/65 in the 2nd innings, her best bowling figures as well as the third-best bowling figures in a single innings by a South African.
It was more than just the statistics – Mlaba’s impact with the ball provided South Africa the momentum as England were bowled out for 236 and the hosts clawed their way back to the contest with 351 to chase, however, a horrific collapse saw the hosts bowled out for 65, their lowest ever.
Mlaba’s 10/155 in the ongoing test also stands as the fifth-best bowling performance by a bowler against England in Test matches.
Best bowling figures for South Africa in women’s Test inning:
Jean Fay McNaughton – 6/39 (19)
Lorna Grace Ward – 6/48 (32.1)
Nonkululeko Mlaba – 6/65 (25)
Lorna Grace Ward – 5/18 (14.3)
Sunette Loubser – 5/37 (40.3)
Best match bowling figures for South Africa in women’s Test:
Nonkululeko Mlaba – 10/157 (128.1)
Sunette Loubser – 8/59 (87.1)
Lorna Grace Ward – 7/76 (236.4)
Jean Fay McNaughton – 6/54 (46)
Gloria Williamson – 4/57 (114.2)
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