On Friday (December 5), South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt smashed the fastest women’s T20I century by a South African, achieving the feat against Ireland.
In the first match of the three-match series in Cape Town, South Africa delivered a commanding performance, led by Wolvaardt’s unbeaten century. Batting first, Wolvaardt reached her fifty in 24 balls before taking another 28 to bring up her three figures. She finished on a career-best 115 not out off 56 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and four sixes. Having also scored 102 against Sri Lanka in 2024, she joined an exclusive group of 10 Full Member batters with multiple women’s T20I hundreds.
Sune Luus provided strong support with a 51-ball 81 as South Africa posted 220-2 in 20 overs – their highest total in the format. The score surpassed their long-standing record of 205-1 against New Zealand in Potchefstroom in 2010.
1st T20I, South Africa Women vs Ireland Women
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Wolvaardt, the top run-scorer at this year’s Women’s ODI World Cup during South Africa’s runners-up finish, is in irresistible form. Her last five international innings now read: 90, 31, 169, 101 and 115*.
With her 52-ball effort, Wolvaardt now holds the record for the fastest century by a South African in women’s T20Is. She surpassed Lizelle Lee’s 59-ball hundred against Thailand at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup. Overall, 12 players have scored faster women’s T20I hundreds than Wolvaardt, with the world record belonging to West Indies’ Deandra Dottin for her 38-ball century against South Africa in 2010.
Fastest hundreds in women's T20Is, full list:
| Balls | Player | For | Against | Year |
| 38 | Deandra Dottin | West Indies | South Africa | 2010 |
| 44 | Deepika Rasangika | Bahrain | Saudi Arabia | 2022 |
| 46 | Alyssa Healy | Australia | Sri Lanka | 2019 |
| 47 | Tammy Beaumont | England | South Africa | 2018 |
| 47 | Queentor Abel | Kenya | Lesotho | 2023 |
| 49 | Harmanpreet Kaur | India | New Zealand | 2018 |
| 49 | Fargana Hoque | Bangladesh | Maldives | 2019 |
| 49 | Lucia Taylor | Argentina | Chile | 2023 |
| 50 | Maria Castiñeiras | Argentina | Chile | 2023 |
| 51 | Meg Lanning | Australia | England | 2019 |
| 51 | Esha Oza | UAE | Qatar | 2025 |
| 51 | Smriti Mandhana | India | England | 2025 |
| 52 | Danni Wyatt-Hodge | England | India | 2018 |
| 52 | Esha Oza | UAE | Bahrain | 2022 |
| 52 | Laura Agatha | Brazil | Mexico | 2024 |
| 52 | Heather Siegers | Netherlands | Germany | 2025 |
| 52 | Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | Ireland | 2025 |
Source: Hypocaust
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