The caravan moved to the three-match ODI series from 13th December 2025, after the Laura Wolvaardt-led side clinched the T20I series by a 2-0 margin, against Ireland. The 3rd game of the T20I series was washed out due to rain.
Ireland surpassed the 200-run mark in a rain-curtailed contest
The rains threatened to leave a significant impact on the ODI series opener at the Buffalo Park, East London. The game was eventually reduced to a 47-overs-per-side contest. The Irish openers, Sarah Forbes and skipper Gaby Lewis, got their side off to a steady start with a 45-run opening stand, after the visitors won the toss and opted to bat first.
Tumi Sekhukhune got the big scalp as she picked up the wicket of the opposition skipper, Gaby Lewis (14 off 27 balls), in the 12th over of the innings to provide the crucial first breakthrough for her side. Wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter joined Sarah Forbes at the crease, and the pair took them closer to the 100-run mark with a solid 48-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. The introduction of Sune Luus worked in favour of the home side as she picked up the wicket of Sarah Forbes (42 off 71 balls) in the 22nd over of the innings.
The visitors struggled to infuse the momentum into the innings. However, cameos from Rebecca Stokell (39* off 48 balls), Laura Delany (21 off 18 balls), propelled Ireland’s total to 209/7 in their quota of 47 overs. Amy Hunter (32 off 50 balls) and Orla Prendergast (28 off 44 balls) played their part with the bat for Ireland. Nonkululeko Mlaba (10-2-43-3), Tumi Sekhukhune (8-0-32-2), Sune Luus (8-0-34-1), and Miane Smit (4-0-14-1) were impressive with the ball for South Africa.
Twin fifties from Sune Luus and Miane Smit guide South Africa over the line
Chasing a total of 210, the South African openers, Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt, got their side off to a confident start with a 38-run opening partnership. Orla Prendergast picked up the wicket of the opposition skipper, Laura Wolvaardt (31 off 24 balls), in the 5th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Ireland.
A 41-run partnership for the 2nd wicket between Lara Godall (20 off 27 balls) and Tazmin Brits (27 off 30 balls) brought the home side into a solid position. Miane Smit (56* off 70 balls) and Sune Luus (66* off 72 balls) partnered each other at the crease at 86/3 in the 15th over of the run chase. The duo saw them past the finish line with an unbeaten 125-run stand for the 4th wicket.
The duo registered their individual half-centuries, as the Proteas got over the line with 7 wickets in hand and 61 balls to spare. As a result, South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Cara Murray (6-0-34-2) and Orla Prendergast (6-1-31-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for Ireland.
Sune Luus was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational all-round impact, returning with match figures of 8-0-34-1 in her spell with the ball and scoring an unbeaten half-century (66* off 72 balls) with the bat for her side, playing a decisive role in helping her side register a dominant win.
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