Nonkululeko Mlaba‘s four wickets and Laura Wolvaardt’s undefeated century enabled South Africa defeat Ireland by six wickets in the third ODI, sweeping the series 3-0.
Ireland chose to bat and lost Sarah Forbes early, but the visitors were saved by a 99-run partnership between captain Gaby Lewis and Coulter Reilly. With Reilly’s wicket, Tumi Sekhukhune ended the stand and caused a collapse. Mlaba hit twice in the 27th over to remove Laura Delany and a well-set Lewis on 64, turning a score of 120/1 into 120/4.
Ireland was bowled out for 205 in 45.2 overs after managing just two stands over 30. It turned out to be a total that couldn’t compete with a South African team that was playing well.
Tanzim Brits and Wolvaardt combined 56 for the first wicket, with Laura hitting 16 fours.
In the eighth over, Arlene Kelly dismissed the British, but Wolvaardt and Karabo Meso managed to put together another 56-run partnership. Aimee Maguire and Kelly both took two wickets in the end, but South Africa continued to make steady progress towards the goal, with Wolvaardt staying undefeated at 100 to help her team win with 17.4 overs remaining.
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