Laura Wolvaardt led South Africa to their highest successful chase in a women's ODI in Kimberley, securing an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. This was her third century since taking over the captaincy and sixth overall. In the process, Wolvaardt became South Africa's leading run-scorer in ODI cricket, achieving this in her 94th game.
Crucially, South Africa has secured two more points in the women's championship, solidifying their spot in second place. Sri Lanka is currently ranked eighth and remains outside the automatic qualification zone for the 2025 World Cup.
During the match, Wolvaardt was assisted by Marizanne Kapp, who achieved her third half-century in seven innings. The two players shared a 143-run fourth-wicket partnership, with both batters displaying strength in hitting down the ground. Sri Lanka's attack lacked the necessary threat to cause any serious problems, especially on a pitch with a low bounce at one end.
The tone was established in the afternoon when South Africa's opening bowlers conceded few runs in the initial exchanges. Sri Lanka only managed to score 15 runs in the first overs before Ayabonga Khaka claimed an early wicket, dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne for 7 in the sixth over. Kapp maintained the pressure with an opening spell of 5-0-8-0, including 22 dot balls.
The change bowlers were unable to maintain the same stranglehold, particularly against the experience of Chamari Athapaththu. She hit the first ball she faced from Eliz-Mari Marx for four. She went on to hit five more boundaries off her, including four consecutive fours in the 14th over. Athapaththu and Hasini Perera put on 58 for the second wicket before Perera was caught by Delmi Tucker off Nadine de Klerk's bowling. Sune Luus dropped Perera at slip.
Athapaththu scored her 16th ODI half-century off 66 balls but was dismissed by de Klerk, leaving more than half of the Sri Lankan innings remaining. Hansima Karunaratne and Kavisha Dilhari added 61 runs for the fourth wicket in 69 balls. Karunaratne hit the only six of the innings, and Sri Lanka were on track to score 250-plus runs, reaching 152 for 3 after 35 overs.
However, Khaka's return brought Karunaratne's dismissal, and Sri Lanka struggled again. Nonkululeko Mlaba took two wickets in her sixth over, and Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 20 runs in less than four overs. A partnership of 41 runs off 51 balls between Oshadi Ranasinghe and Nilakshika Silva pushed Sri Lanka's score over 200, and they were eventually bowled out with one ball remaining for a total of 229. This left South Africa with the task of completing the highest successful chase in Kimberley. They had previously claimed the record when they successfully chased down 223 against New Zealand in 2016.
Although scoring rates have increased since then, South Africa had to do it without two of their frontline batters. Opener Tazmin Brits was ruled out of the series due to a meniscus tear and sprained ligament in her left knee. She faces a race against time to regain her fitness for the T20 World Cup and will undergo surgery next week. Additionally, Anneke Bosch was forced out of the encounter due to a mild concussion after being hit on the head during Friday's training.
Lara Goodall, who has not played an ODI since September, was brought into the XI but looked tentative on her return. Unfortunately, she was out lbw to a full Achini Kulasuriya ball in the seventh over. By then, Sri Lanka should have already gotten rid of Wolvaardt, who was dropped on 0 by Anushka Sanjeewani. The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper attempted to catch Wolvaardt's outside edge one-handed while driving to her right but could not hold on.
Sri Lanka's fielding not only cost them Wolvaardt's runs but also allowed Luus and Kapp to get away. Luus was given a life on 11 off a top-edge and went on to score 21. Kapp was dropped by Athapaththu in her follow-through on 25.
Throughout the evening and as South Africa's innings progressed, thunderstorms could be seen moving closer to the ground. The players were taken off the field after 34.2 overs, with the score at 157 for, with South Africa 25 runs ahead of the DLS. They returned shortly after to finish the chase. In the 44th over, Wolvaardt reached her century off 133 balls, with South Africa requiring 22 runs to win. They achieved the target with 14 balls remaining.