Laura Wolvaardt smashes 53-ball 115 to seal series against India in 2026

Laura Wolvaardt blazed a 53-ball 115 as South Africa chased 193 to complete a series sweep over India in 2026.

Record Powerplay start South Africa set a new record during the Powerplay, putting up 72 runs in the first six overs, the highest total by any South African side in that phase of a T20I. Laura Wolvaardt also reached her quickest T20I fifty in just 23 deliveries during this explosive start. The opening pair knew their aggressive approach was necessary to chase a target of 193 and committed to maintaining the momentum throughout their innings. Wolvaardt later reflected on the partnership in the post-match interview, saying, "We kept each other pretty calm out there. It's new territory to find ourselves on 70-odd after the Powerplay but once we got that, we told each other we have to keep going." ## Unstoppable opening stand Wolvaardt and Lizelle Luus combined for an opening partnership of 183 runs, which stands as South Africa's second-highest first-wicket stand in T20Is. Their rapid scoring hinted they could have chased an even larger total given the right conditions. Wolvaardt credited the pitch for the ease of batting, noting it played more like the typical Wanderers surface than the slower pitches seen recently. "I realised pretty early on that the ball was sliding on nicely," she explained. "My main thought was to max the Powerplay and once we got out of the Powerplay, just try to stay with the rate. I knew chasing 190, we needed a pretty good start so I just came out with a lot of intent. The wicket was nice and flat." ## India's struggle under pressure India failed to counter South Africa's aggressive approach, leaving Harmanpreet Kaur frustrated after her team posted their highest total against this opposition. Kaur admitted South Africa "didn't give us a single chance to come back into the game," highlighting their dominance throughout the chase. Wolvaardt had been dropped twice during her innings, once on 31 and again on 85, but had already inflicted heavy damage by then. Kaur also acknowledged the bowlers "didn't have any second answer for them," underscoring the one-sided nature of the contest. ## Wolvaardt's milestone century Laura Wolvaardt completed her third T20I century and matched her highest score in the format with a 53-ball 115. She described the innings as "a lot of fun" and praised Luus for her solid contribution at the other end. The two openers, who were paired together for the first time in this series, now appear set to open for South Africa at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Tazmin Brits is likely to bat at number three once Marizanne Kapp returns from illness, giving the team flexibility in the top order. ## Squad depth and upcoming challenges South Africa's batting lineup includes several strong options beyond the top three, with Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, and Anneke Bosch competing for spots in the top five. Wolvaardt urged the team to stay focused on the remaining matches in the series, emphasizing how rare it is to win multiple games against India. "Winning a lot of games against India is not something you get to do every day," she noted. This victory marks only the second time South Africa has beaten India in a bilateral T20I series and the first at home, adding to their impressive summer with series wins over Ireland, Pakistan, and now India. ## Road to T20 World Cup Wolvaardt expressed satisfaction with the team's current trajectory, stating they are "improving every single game" as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. South Africa have also benefited from winning the toss in all three matches so far, choosing to bat and chase each time. Wolvaardt acknowledged that a different challenge awaits if they lose the toss and have to bat first, but added, "Once we lose the toss and have to bat first, that will be a different story but that's what this five-match series is for." Their next match is scheduled at the Wanderers on Saturday, followed by a day game in Benoni next Monday, which coincides with a public holiday in South Africa.