• South Africa women's cricket team have scripted history by defeating Australia for the first time in international cricket.

  • Laura Wolvaardt was adjudged 'Player of the Match' for her exceptional match-winning knock in South Africa vs Australia 2nd T20I.

Twitter reactions: Laura Wolvaardt leads South Africa to historic first win over Australia Women in 2nd T20I to level the series
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits

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In a historic moment at Manuka Oval, South Africa’s women’s cricket team secured a remarkable six-wicket win over Australia, marking their first-ever victory against the powerhouse in women’s internationals. It all happened during the second T20I of the South Africa Women tour of Australia 2024 witnessed an intense battle, with Laura Wolvaardt playing a pivotal role in the team’s iconic triumph.

Grace Harris shines for Australia

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australia Women posted a challenging target of 143 runs. The Australian batting lineup, led by the dynamic Grace Harris, showcased an array of skills. Harris contributed 31 runs off 18 balls, including three fours and a six. Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath added to the scoreboard with 29 and 23 runs, respectively.

However, the South African bowlers, spearheaded by Masabata Klaas and Marizanne Kapp, delivered crucial breakthroughs, limiting Australia to 142/6 after 20 overs.

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits’ fireworks

In response to the challenging target, South Africa Women exhibited a formidable batting performance. Laura Wolvaardt, displaying composure and skill, led the charge with a brilliant 58 runs off 53 balls. Tazmin Brits provided vital support with a quick 41 runs off 28 balls.

Despite the efforts of Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner to pick up wickets for Australia, South Africa successfully chased down the target with six wickets in hand, reaching 144/4 in 19 overs.

Also READ: Heather Knight withdraws from WPL 2024; RCB names her replacement

Player of the Match

As the historic victory was sealed by South Africa Women, winning by six wickets and levelling the series, the ‘Player of the Match’ award rightly went to Laura. Her match-winning innings of 58 runs not only highlighted her exceptional batting skills but also played a pivotal role in leading her team to a memorable triumph.

With Proteas Women’s victory, the upcoming third and final clash between these two powerhouse nations takes on added significance as it will determine the series’ outcome. Fans eagerly anticipate this high-stakes game, with all eyes set on the pivotal showdown.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: ICC unveils Women’s T20I team of the Year 2023; only one Indian makes the cut

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.