IRE-W vs SA-W | 1st T20 | Match Preview | SPOTLIGHT: LAURA WOLVAARDT

A familiar name in South Africa cricket, someone who left university to pursue cricket, Laura Wolvaardt first shone in the South Africa women’s U-19 team and later led the squad. Aged 13, Laura was named the U-19 Female cricketer of the year.

At the mere age of 17, Laura became the youngest centurion, male or female, for South Africa in international cricket, smashing 105 off 67 deliveries against Ireland and drove the team to victory. 

At 18, she became the youngest women cricketer to cross the 1000 run mark in ODIs and later became the first to cross 2000 runs in the format. While achieving the feat, she beat Quinton De Kock’s record, who previously held the same record. 

Despite being just 22, Laura is a name among the top international players and is a crucial player for her national side. She also made her mark in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League. 

In 2020, the right-hand batswoman was named South Africa's Women’s Cricketer of the Year and simultaneously bagged CSA’s ODI Cricketer of the year award.  

The South African women’s team will clash with the Ireland women for the 1st T20 match on June 3rd, 2022, at Pembroke Cricket Club, Dublin. 

SQUADS

South Africa: Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus (captain), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt

Ireland: Gaby Lewis (captain), Alana Dalzell, Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Kate McEvoy, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Celeste Raack, Mary Waldron