In a special moment at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa’s seasoned all-rounder Sune Luus became just the fifth Proteas batter to cross the 3,000-run milestone in ODIs, anchoring a colossal 361/8 against Pakistan in the 2nd ODI of the ongoing white-ball series.
Needing just 30 runs to join the elite club ahead of the clash, the 30-year-old delivered a composed 57 off 67 balls from No. 4, her fifth ODI half-century against Pakistan and eighth on South African soil, complete with four crisp boundaries that propelled her country to their second-highest ODI total ever.
Sune Luus’s knock wasn’t just a personal triumph; it set an audacious target of 362, forcing Pakistan, led by skipper Fatima Sana, who won the toss and bowled first, to chase the highest total in women’s ODI history to level the three-match series. South Africa, under captain Laura Wolvaardt, already hold a 1-0 lead after dominating the preceding T20I series 2-1 and clinching the rain-shortened first ODI by 37 runs at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. Luus’s innings, laced with her trademark grit, turned the Centurion pitch into a fortress, underscoring her evolution from promising debutant to cornerstone of the Proteas’ white-ball resurgence.
Since her ODI bow on September 6, 2012, against Bangladesh at Mirpur, Luus has been a pillar of consistency across 147 matches and 127 innings. Her ledger now reads an imposing 3,027 runs at an average of 28.02 and a strike rate of 69.45, featuring 20 half-centuries and two centuries. That signature moment arrived on December 16, 2025, against Ireland at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, where her sublime 114 off 113 balls (13 fours, one six) from No. 4 powered South Africa to their format record 375/6, sealing a 74-run victory.
From those early days in Dhaka to this Centurion masterclass, Luus embodies the all-rounder’s artistry. Bat in hand, she has shouldered South Africa’s ambitions through highs and heartbreaks.
As Pakistan stare down an unprecedented chase under the Centurion lights, Luus’s milestone isn’t merely statistical; it’s a testament to resilience in a format where South Africa craves that elusive World Cup crown. With the series on the line, her poise could well propel the hosts to a series win.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.