The Proteas Women are led to victory by Wolvaardt and Kapp

In the first women's ODI on Saturday, Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp played a crucial role in helping the Proteas secure a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.

The Kimberley Oval witnessed a record chase as Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 110 off 141 balls (including six fours) and Kapp contributed with an 80* off 84 balls (including seven fours). South Africa successfully chased down Sri Lanka's total of 229 all out, which included a score of 51 off 69 runs (including nine fours) from Chamari Athapaththu.

After winning the toss for the first time in 12 attempts and choosing to bowl, the Proteas got off to a strong start. Ayabonga Khaka (3-28) secured an early breakthrough by dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne (seven), with Masabata Klaas taking a composed catch at deep fine leg.

With the Proteas bowlers hitting their marks early on, Sri Lanka was restricted to 27-1 in the powerplay. Captain Athapaththu then found her rhythm with the bat, helping to push the visitors to 62-1 after 15 overs.

Alongside Hasini Perera (15), Athapaththu anchored a 58-run partnership for the second wicket. Nadine de Klerk (3-23) broke the deadlock by removing Perera, caught by Delmi Tucker, leaving Sri Lanka at 73-2 in the 18th over.

Despite losing her batting partners, Athapaththu scored her 16th half-century in her 100th ODI. However, De Klerk dismissed her for 51, making her the second victim of the afternoon. Sri Lanka was at 93-3 at the halfway stage of the innings.

New batters Hansima Karunaratne and Kaveesha Dilhari rebuilt the innings steadily, taking Sri Lanka to 100 runs in the 27th over and 120-3 with 20 overs remaining.

With Dilhari leading, the Sri Lankan middle-order batters added a crucial half-century stand for the fourth wicket, helping the tourists reach 150 in the 35th over.

Soon after, Khaka took the important wicket of Karunaratne, who scored 33 off 60 balls. Klaas took her second catch of the day. Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-40) then dismissed Dilhari and Anushka Sanjeewani (nought) in consecutive deliveries, leaving the visitors at 178-6 after 39 overs.

With two new batsmen at the crease, Nilakshika Silva (36) and Oshadi Ranasinghe (20) added a crucial 41 runs for the seventh wicket before Klaas (1-50) claimed her only wicket of the match to end the partnership with Sri Lanka on 214-7 in 47 overs.

South Africa's bowlers did well to restrict Sri Lanka's lower order as Eliz-Mari Marx (1-38), De Klerk and Khaka took the last three wickets to finish the innings with a ball to spare.

In response, the Proteas had a slow start with the bat. Sri Lanka dismissed two of the three top-order batters, including the returning Lara Goodall (seven) and Tucker (two), during the powerplay. This left the home side at 43-2 after 10 overs.

During a crucial 59-run third-wicket partnership for South Africa, Wolvaardt and Suné Luus (21) helped to build the innings and take the hosts close to the 100-run mark. However, Luus was clean bowled by Inoka Ranaweera (1-45), leaving the Proteas at 86-3 after 20 overs and still requiring 144 runs to win.

With Kapp joining the in-form Wolvaardt at the crease, the duo combined devastatingly. Kapp led the partnership with an aggressive display, adding a half-century stand with Wolvaardt. South Africa advanced to 145-3 after 30 overs.

Despite a brief stoppage in play caused by lightning, the experienced pair continued to dominate at the crease and reached a 100-run partnership. Kapp raised her bat for a 14th career half-century as South Africa reached 188-3 after 40 overs.

Wolvaardt soon scored her fifth career hundred to become the Proteas' leading run-scorer in women's ODI cricket, and Wolvaardt and Kapp eventually secured victory with 14 balls to spare, needing 42 runs from 10 overs.

The third and final One Day International (ODI) will take place on Wednesday at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, starting at 2 pm.