Southern Brave’s new recruit and South African batting star, Laura Wolvaardt, has etched her name into The Women’s Hundred record books. At just 26 years of age, the elegant right-hander stood a mere 28 runs away from becoming only the fourth cricketer in tournament history, after Nat Sciver-Brunt of Trent Rockets and teammate Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, and Sophia Dunkley of Welsh Fire, to amass 1,000 career runs in the competition. Wolvaardt’s journey to this landmark has been a testament to consistency, class, and an unyielding hunger to adapt and excel across different teams.
Wolvaardt’s journey in the competition began on 24th July 2021, when she made her debut for the Northern Superchargers against Welsh Fire at Leeds. From the outset, she showcased her trademark fluency through the off-side and ability to anchor an innings. Over her first two seasons with the Yorkshire-based outfit, she piled up 467 runs from 13 innings at an outstanding average of 51.88 and a strike rate of 126.55.
Her stint included three half-centuries, none more memorable than her career-best 90* off 49 balls against the Manchester Originals on 21st August 2022. That day at Headingley, Wolvaardt played with a mix of class and calculated aggression, guiding the Superchargers to victory and earning the Player of the Match honour. That innings remains her highest score in The Hundred to date and a defining performance of her career.
In 2023, Wolvaardt took on a new challenge, signing for the Manchester Originals for the 3rd edition of the tournament. Over two seasons with the Originals, she accumulated 362 runs from 13 innings in 14 matches, batting at a strike rate of 120.26 and an average of 30.16.
One knock that particularly stood out came on 1st August 2024, when she struck a composed yet commanding 78* (52 balls) against her current side, Southern Brave, at Southampton. The innings, highlighted by crisp strokeplay and timely acceleration, earned her yet another Player of the Match award. Those seasons in Manchester reinforced her flexibility to adapt her game to different team roles and conditions while maintaining her run-scoring appetite.
Ahead of the ongoing 5th edition in 2025, Wolvaardt joined Southern Brave, stepping in as the direct replacement for Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Batting in a star-studded Brave top-order, she has made an immediate impact, scoring 199 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 124.90, including a half-century in the game against London Spirit on 23rd August 2025.
She entered the 1,000 runs club when she crossed 28 runs, and she got there in style, smashing a maximum down the ground straight as an arrow to Eva Gray on the 31st ball of the innings. She scored 56* (40 balls), playing a crucial role as Southern Brave sealed another dominant win by 8 wickets.
Her campaign began with an unbeaten 42* (37 balls) in the season opener against her former side, Manchester Originals, guiding Southern Brave to victory in a confident chase. She followed it with 28 (19 balls) against Birmingham Phoenix at Southampton, an innings that blended aggression with composure, and then delivered another anchoring knock of 33* (29 balls) versus the Northern Superchargers on 13th August 2025.
Across her four-and-a-bit seasons in The Women’s Hundred, Laura Wolvaardt has now aggregated 1,028 runs from 33 innings, scoring at a strike rate of 124.90 while averaging a healthy 41.12. Her record includes five half-centuries, multiple match-winning knocks, and a playing style that has evolved from a technically pure anchor to a more dynamic boundary-hitter.
Crossing the 1,000-run mark on 23rd August, Wolvaardt joins an exclusive club, underlining not only her individual brilliance but also her enduring influence in one of cricket’s most fiercely competitive women’s tournaments.
For a player who has seamlessly transitioned across teams and roles, this milestone is more than just a number; it’s a reflection of years of adaptability, mental toughness, and the ability to rise to the occasion against the world’s best bowlers. From her debut at Leeds to her current stint at Southern Brave, Wolvaardt has remained a vital presence, her class often defining the tempo of an innings.
With Southern Brave in strong contention this season and Wolvaardt in prime form, the milestone is not just a personal triumph, but another celebrated chapter in the evolution of South Africa’s modern batting jewel.
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