A spectacular unbeaten half-century from captain Laura Wolvaardt led the Proteas Women to a six-wicket victory in the second T20 International (T20I) against Australia, for South Africa’s first-ever win against Australia across all formats, leveling the three-match T20I series in Canberra on Sunday, 28 January, 2024.
“Very special! I think having never beaten them before in any format or game is something we were keen to change, and to do it in their own backyard is incredibly special.”
Player of the Match, SA skipper, Laura Wolvaardt
Wolvaardt dispatched six fours en route to 58* off 53 deliveries alongside Tazmin Brits’ 28-ball 41 (8 fours) as South Africa successfully chased down Australia’s 142/6 in 20 overs with the help of Masabata Klaas’ return of 2/16 with the ball.
Opting to set the score after winning the toss, Australia faced early challenges as Beth Mooney (13) survived two dropped catches before succumbing to a run-out at the non-striker’s end. Despite the early loss, captain Alyssa Healy (29) and Tahlia McGrath (23) added 31 runs before Klaas dismissed Healy in the ninth over, leaving the home side at 58/2.
On the back of another wicket, Australia’s McGrath and Ellyse Perry (18) combined well for another 26 runs before South Africa picked up three quick wickets to transfer the pressure back onto the hosts as a stumping off Nonkululeko Mlaba’s (1/18) bowling in addition to wickets from Marizanne Kapp (1/22) and Klaas to leave the Aussies 93/5 at the end of the 15th over.
Soon after the home team brought up triple figures in the 17th over, all-rounder Nadine de Klerk (1/24) picked up South Africa’s sixth scalp of the day to remove Ashleigh Gardner (10) before Australia finished off their innings on 142/6, helped by a late cameo from Grace Harris which included 31* runs off 18 balls (3 fours, 1 six).
In their chase, South Africa displayed an improved batting performance, reaching 41/0 in the powerplay and achieving a 50-run partnership for the first wicket in just 42 deliveries. Brits, in good form from the previous T20I, continued her impressive batting, hitting eight boundaries before falling to McGrath (1/16) in the 10th over.
Needing 68 runs for a historic triumph, experienced all-rounder Marizanne Kapp (20) joined Wolvaardt, guiding the Proteas Women past the 100-run mark before Kapp lost her wicket to Gardner with South Africa at 109/2.
Despite brief innings from Suné Luus (1) and Anneke Bosch (11), Wolvaardt stood firm, reaching her 10th T20I half-century. Chloé Tryon (4) hit the winning runs in the penultimate over, securing the historic win for South Africa and leveling the series 1-1.
The series decider is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, at the Bellerive Oval in the Blundstone Arena, Hobart in Tasmania, starting at 19h05 local time (10h35 SAST).
Women’s CommBank T20I Series v South Africa
Warm Up
24 Jan: Governor-General’s XI beat SA XI by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
T20I Series
27 Jan: Australia win first T20I 8 wickets (5 balls rem.) (Manuka Oval, Canberra)
28 Jan: South Africa win 2nd T20I by 6 wickets (6 balls rem.) (Manuka Oval, Canberra)
30 Jan: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.05pm
ODI Series
3 Feb: Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm
7 Feb: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
10 Feb: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
Only Test
15-18 Feb: WACA Ground, Perth 11.00am
Proteas Women Squad (T20I & ODI) – Multi-format Tour to Australia
Laura Wolvaardt (c)
Anneke Bosch
Tazmin Brits
Nadine de Klerk
Mieke de Ridder
Ayanda Hlubi
Sinalo Jafta
Marizanne Kapp
Ayabonga Khaka
Masabata Klaas
Suné Luus
Eliz-Mari Marx
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Chloé Tryon
Delmi Tucker
Australia Squad for the T20I and ODI Series
Alyssa Healy (c)
Darcie Brown
Heather Graham
Ashleigh Gardner
Kim Garth
Grace Harris*
Jess Jonassen
Alana King**
Phoebe Litchfield
Tahlia McGrath
Beth Mooney
Ellyse Perry
Megan Schutt
Annabel Sutherland
Georgia Wareham
*T20s only | **ODIs only
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Player of the Match and SA skipper, opener Laura Wolvaardt carried her bat for a history-making 58* (53 balls) to carry South Africa to their first win over Australia – in any cricket format – to level the T20I series in Canberra on Sunday, 28 January, 2024. Photo: Cricket Australia on X
Photo 2 Caption: Australia were propelled to a good finish by Grace Harris, who finished on 31* of 18 balls for a first-innings total of 142/6, having won the toss and elected to bat first. Photo: Cricket Australia on X
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