South Africa completed a commanding 3-0 sweep of the ODI series, underlining the growing gap in depth and experience between the two sides. Ireland competed in patches – notably with Orla Prendergast’s 97 in the run-fest second ODI and Gaby Lewis’ fluent half-century in the third – but could not quite stitch together complete performances across all three games. For the hosts, the series steadily built towards a statement finale in Johannesburg, with senior players stepping up and Laura Wolvaardt setting the tone with the bat throughout.
The third ODI at The Wanderers followed a familiar script, but not without moments of Irish resistance. Put in to bat, Ireland reached 205 before being bowled out in 45.2 overs, a total built around Gaby Lewis’ composed 64 off 80 balls and solid support from Christina Coulter Reilly, who added 37 from 56 deliveries. South Africa’s attack, led brilliantly by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba with 4 for 33, kept chipping away, ensuring that every Irish rebuild was quickly checked and the target stayed well within reach on a good batting pitch.
Ireland’s innings was a story of promise that never quite turned into dominance. Lewis and Coulter Reilly constructed an important partnership that gave the visitors a platform at 120 for 1, but a sudden collapse saw both depart in quick succession and the middle order could not absorb the pressure. South Africa’s bowlers shared the work intelligently – Mlaba attacking the stumps, Tumi Sekhukhune providing control through the middle, and the seamers closing out the tail – to restrict Ireland to a par score rather than the imposing total they had threatened at one stage.
In reply, South Africa’s chase was all about control and intent, spearheaded by a masterful unbeaten century from captain Laura Wolvaardt. She added 56 for the first wicket with Tazmin Brits (26) to blunt any early Irish hopes, then stitched together another 56-run stand with Karabo Meso as the hosts motored to 112 for 1 after just 16 overs, effectively breaking the back of the chase. Even as a cluster of middle-order wickets briefly checked the tempo, Wolvaardt ensured there was no panic, guiding South Africa home to 206 for 4 in only 32.2 overs – a six-wicket win with a hefty 106 balls to spare. Dane van Niekerk made only 10 off just 6 in her international return.
This match felt like the perfect encapsulation of Wolvaardt’s series – composed, ruthless, and technically assured. She finished the ODI leg with 255 runs and was deservedly named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series, having already set up the campaign with a sparkling 124 in the second ODI before sealing it with an unbeaten 100 off 93 balls in Johannesburg. Across the three games she shifted gears seamlessly, from anchoring to acceleration, and her ability to pierce gaps and punish anything marginal ensured Ireland’s bowlers were constantly under pressure and rarely allowed to dictate terms.
By the time the winning stroke was punched past mid-off to bring up both the century and the series whitewash, there was a sense of a job clinically done for South Africa. Ireland will take heart from individual sparks – Lewis’ runs at the top, Prendergast’s counter-attacking knock earlier in the series, and the efforts of Arlene Kelly and Aimee Maguire with the ball in the final ODI – but the hosts’ superior depth, discipline and big-match know-how proved decisive. As attention now turns to Ireland’s upcoming assignments and South Africa’s bigger targets, this series will be remembered primarily as a benchmark in the hosts’ ODI build-up and a personal high point in Wolvaardt’s already glittering career.
Loves all things female cricket