South Africa’s batting attempts once again revolved around captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus. Both scored hundreds, and the core of South Africa’s innings was their enormous 179-run partnership. Despite losing her opening partner, Tazim Brits, in the sixth over, Wolvaardt, who had been cautious at first, settled into a rhythm with a variety of boundaries. In the PowerPlay, she was mostly in charge of the scoring as South Africa reached 52/1 in the first ten overs.
South Africa won by 74 runs at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, securing the second ODI and the three-match series. Despite a fierce chase, South Africa managed to hold Ireland at bay after setting a lofty mark of 376 runs.
The 155-ball partnership between Wolvaardt and Luus began with Lara Goodall’s expulsion in the eleventh over.
Before being removed by Aimee Maguire in the 37th over, Wolvaardt reached her century in the 32nd over with a boundary off Laura Delany. However, Luus and Dane van Niekerk went on to share another 117-run partnership as Ireland was unable to regain momentum. Van Niekerk’s 47-ball 88 furthered South Africa’s total, while Luus increased her score in the 47th over.
Ireland’s pursuit got off to a bad start when they lost Sarah Forbes in the opening over, but Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter made sure they didn’t get off course. Lewis was removed in the fourteenth over, ending their 77-run partnership. With a partnership of 93 runs, Hunter and Orla Prendergast kept Ireland rolling, but South Africa struck twice, eliminating Hunter and Laura Delany in consecutive overs to sap the momentum.
Leah Prendergast Paul maintained their side’s viability with an 80-run stand and refused to give up. But once Paul was dismissed in the 40th over, Ireland fell apart, going from 251/4 to 301 all-out in 47.5 overs. Ireland gave up as Prendergast came within three runs of her second ODI century. With statistics of 3-48 in 6.5 overs, Leah Jones was the best bowler in South Africa.
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