Image Source: Reuters
[Saba Sports News] Laura Wolvaardt smashed her maiden century in T20Is, scoring 102 off 63 balls, as South Africa dominated Sri Lanka by 79 runs in the opening match of their three-game series at Willowmoore Park, Benoni.
Opting to bat on a favorable surface, South Africa’s innings gained momentum early on. Though Tazbin Brits departed quickly, Marizanne Kapp (60 off 40 balls) and Wolvaardt built a formidable 116-run partnership in just 79 deliveries. Wolvaardt, showcasing her aggressive batting, struck 12 fours and three sixes, overshadowing Kapp’s power game. This partnership led South Africa to their second-highest team total in T20Is.
Chasing a daunting target of 199, Sri Lanka relied heavily on captain Chamari Athapaththu, but her early dismissal by Kapp dashed any hopes they might have had. Despite decent contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama (38 off 33) and Hasini Perera (30 off 18), Sri Lanka faltered against South Africa’s bowling attack. With a significant total to defend, South Africa’s bowlers maintained pressure on Sri Lanka, resulting in a one-sided contest.
South Africa: 198/5 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 102, Marizanne Kapp 60; Achini Kulasuriya 2-39) Sri Lanka: 119 in 18.2 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 38, Hasini Perera 30; Annerie Dercksen 2-15, Tumi Sekhukhune 2-25)