Laura Wolvaardt led the South African team from the front to defeat the visitors New Zealand quite comfortably to record their second consecutive win over them as well as clinch the 3-match ODI series with one match to spare.
Interim captain Laura scored a fabulous knock of 124*, as the Proteas defeated White Ferns by 7 wickets. This was Laura’s 4th overall ODI century. On a personal level, Laura broke several records during this thunderous knock.
She surpassed Lizelle Lee to become the second-highest run-scorer in the 50-overs format. Laura has now 3397 runs to her name in the ODI just behind 363 behind the current number Mignon du Preez (3760).
This was also the first time Laura scored an international ODI century while chasing. Till then, Laura had 3 international centuries to her name in the format, all of those came while batting first. With this century, Laura has also scored the most centuries for the Proteas. Previously, the record was held by the dynamic opener Lizelle Lee, who had notched up the three figures for a total of 3 times from 99 innings.
🚨 CENTURY!!! 🚨
A fabulous match-winning ton for Laura Wolvaardt against New Zealand and South Africa seals the ODI series 2-0. #CricketTwitter #SAvNZ pic.twitter.com/atqSdbIrfd
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 28, 2023
Laura equalled Lee’s record of 3 centuries for the Proteas in 2022, in her 64th innings. It took her just 20 more innings to surpass Lee to become the new record holder.
This was the first time that a Proteas player crossed the 3-figures mark against the White Ferns in this format. Lizelle Lee had previously come close as she missed her much-deserved century by a measly 1 run in 2020.
Laura’s knock of 124* was also the 4th highest score ever by a Proteas batter in the ODI Format. The highest-ever knock came from the bat of Johmari Logtenberg in 2007 against the Netherlands. Although the record of second-best knock is still held by Laura when she scored 149 against Ireland in 2017.
This knock was also the second-highest knock by a Proteas batter while chasing the target. The record is still held by Lizelle Lee when she scored 132* against India in 2021. Quite a game this turned out to be for interim skipper and extraordinary batter Laura Wolvaardt, who, in only one outing, has etched various records to her name.
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