South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt seals a historic achievement by becoming the first South African player to cross the milestone of 7,000 international runs in the women’s game.
She achieved the landmark in fashion with a statement boundary, crashing a half-volley outside off stump, opening the face of the bat and finding the gap through the point region. She seemed to have found her rhythm back after missing out on a nightmarish day as a skipper in their opening game of their campaign against England, led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt on 3rd October 2025, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. However, Jess Kerr eventually had the last laugh as she dismissed the South African skipper (14 off 10 balls) in the 3rd over of the run chase at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
The 26-year-old, who has been the cornerstone of South Africa’s batting unit since making her international debut in 2016, has etched her name in the record books during the ongoing 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, currently being contested in India and Sri Lanka. While South Africa endured a forgettable start to their campaign with a 10-wicket loss against Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England at Guwahati, the milestone for Wolvaardt adds a glimmer of inspiration for the Proteas faithful.
Laura Wolvaardt’s story at the international level began on 7th February 2016, when she made her ODI debut against England at Benoni. Since then, she has scripted one of the most consistent batting careers in the women’s game. In 112 matches, she has accumulated 4,670 runs at an impressive average of 48.14 and a strike rate of 72.23. Her tally includes 35 half-centuries and 9 centuries, a testament to her ability to anchor innings and deliver under pressure.
Her finest ODI knock remains the scintillating 184 not out against Sri Lanka at Potchefstroom on 17th April 2024. Opening alongside Lara Goodall, Wolvaardt crafted a masterclass in composure and strokeplay, striking 23 boundaries and 4 sixes in a 147-ball stay. Though South Africa eventually lost by six wickets, her monumental effort earned her the Player of the Series award after scoring 335 runs in three matches.
In World Cups specifically, she has been prolific, amassing 776 runs at an average of 51.73 and a strike rate of 74.11 across 17 matches since her debut on the big stage in 2017. Her nine fifties in World Cup games highlight her reliability on cricket’s grandest stage.
Wolvaardt’s impact isn’t limited to the longer white-ball format. Since her T20I debut in Dublin on 1st August 2016 against Ireland, she has evolved into South Africa’s mainstay in the shortest format. In 83 matches, she has scored 2,088 runs at a strike rate of 115.10 and an average of 34.80. Known for her ability to both anchor an innings and accelerate when needed, she has registered 12 fifties and a solitary century.
Her lone century in T20I cricket came against Sri Lanka on 27th March 2024 at Benoni. Crafting a fluent 102 off 63 balls, laced with 12 fours and 3 sixes, Wolvaardt lifted South Africa to a commanding total. The Proteas cruised to a 79-run victory that day, and she fittingly walked away with the Player of the Match award. Performances like these have cemented her place as one of the most elegant yet destructive batters in the modern-day women’s game.
In the longest format, still rare in the women’s game, Wolvaardt has showcased resilience and adaptability. Making her Test debut against England at Taunton on 27th June 2022, she has since featured in 8 innings, scoring 255 runs at an average of 31.87 and a strike rate of 40.66. With one century and a half-century, she has already ensured her name features among South Africa’s most trusted Test batters.
Her standout performance in the format came on 28th June 2024 against India at Chennai. Battling through a challenging surface and high-quality Indian bowling, she compiled a patient and gritty 122 off 314 balls in the third innings, an innings revered for its sheer determination and technique. It was a knock that underlined her quality in red-ball cricket and highlighted the dimensions she brings to South African batting across formats.
Now, standing at 7,013 international runs, Laura Wolvaardt has made herself immortal in South African cricket, a landmark that speaks of her consistency, adaptability, and sheer class across formats. From teenage prodigy to national skipper, she has been at the heart of South Africa’s batting over the past decade.
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