On Friday (May 9), South Africa all-rounder Annerie Dercksen scored a spectacular century against Sri Lanka in the Women's ODI tri-series.
The last group stage match of the series was a dead rubber, with Sri Lanka already having qualified for Sunday's final against India.
The Proteas handed an ODI debut to teenager Seshnie Naidu, and were put in to bat first. Openers Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt made a steady start, getting to 53-0 in the Powerplay and putting on 68 before Brits was dismissed by Dewmi Vihanga.
Vihanga then proceeded to rip through South Africa's middle-order, her figures reading 5-9 in 4.3 overs at one point. The fall of the fifth wicket brought 24-year-old Annerie Dercksen to the crease.
Annerie Dercksen slams maiden international century against Sri Lanka
Off just her third ball, Dercksen advanced down the wicket to the off-spinner Vihanga to grab her first boundary, a four straight down the ground. After the loss of Nondumiso Shangase put South Africa 127-6, she settled and began working the gaps in the company of Chloe Tryon.
Read more: Latest ICC women's ODI rankings: Sri Lanka duo, India newbie reach career high ratings
The 31st over saw Dercksen collect three boundaries off the bowling of Chamari Athapaththu, and she made her way to a half-century off 50 balls, her third on the trot. She stepped on the accelerator after that, hitting five sixes in all on her way to a century off 81 balls, getting there by hitting Malki Madara for six.
Dercksen's effort made her just the second woman to score an ODI century from No.7 or below. West Indies' Shemaine Campbelle was the first, doing so in 2013 against Sri Lanka – a knock which saw her score 105 after coming to the crease at 23-5. Dercksen was eventually dismissed for 104, two runs short of breaking Campbelle's record for the highest individual score in an ODI from No.7 or below.
Highest scores from No.7 or below in women's ODIs
| Player | Team | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| Shemaine Campbelle | West Indies | 105 | Sri Lanka | Dambulla | 2013 |
| Annerie Dercksen | South Africa | 104 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | 2025 |
| Amy Jones | England | 92* | New Zealand | Wellington | 2024 |
| Chloe Tryon | South Africa | 92 | Ireland | Dublin | 2016 |
| Rebecca Rolls | New Zealand | 84* | South Africa | Christchurch | 1999 |
| Aliya Riaz | Pakistan | 81 | South Africa | Durban | 2021 |
| Ally Kuylaars | South Africa | 74* | Pakistan | Vadodara | 1997 |
| Sophie Devine | New Zealand | 74* | Australia | Queenstown | 2010 |
| Katherine Fraser | Scotland | 74* | Papua New Guinea | Utrecht | 2024 |
| Chloe Tryon | South Africa | 74 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | 2025 |
Image credit: YouTube / Sri Lanka Cricket
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
