Wolvaardt whacks India, but support needed

How do you solve a problem like Laura Wolvaardt? India spent 10 days trying during the T20I series. All but once, they failed.

When Wolvaardt scored 50 or more, South Africa won. When she didn't, they lost. She made 51 and 54 in the first two games at Kingsmead, 115 in the first Wanderers match, 18 in the second, and 92 not out in the series finale in Benoni.

Only Wolvaardt reached 200 runs in the series. Her aggregate of 330 runs was almost twice as big as India's top scorer, Harmanpreet Kaur, who banked 169. No woman has scored more runs in a rubber in the format, even though some series have been two games longer.

Wolvaardt told a press conference there were helpful factors: "I did get the best of conditions; won all the tosses, was able to chase under lights in the first four games and batted first today on a slowish wicket."

She reached 50 off 30 balls and seemed steaming towards her second hundred in three innings. But then she lost momentum and struggled to stay on strike. With nothing riding on the match, Wolvaardt bided her time, collecting runs where she could.

When Deepti Sharma stood ready to bowl the 20th, Wolvaardt had faced only 23 deliveries since making 50. Back on strike with two balls left, she launched a six over wide mid-on and then hit an even harder, flatter six over long-on. Those two blows took South Africa to 155/6. Superb bowling by Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk, who took 5/53 in 10 overs between them, curbed India's reply to 132/8.

Before taking on India, South Africa lost six of eight white-ball games in New Zealand. Wolvaardt was limited to 97 runs in five T20I innings. She scored 69 in both of the last two ODIs, and South Africa lost both.

"I can't really tell you what's changed that much," Wolvaardt said. She highlighted improvements in her team's powerplay batting and death bowling from the New Zealand series to the India series. Against India, South Africa were on top in powerplay terms four times and kept the double-figure damage after the 15th down to two games.

But the South Africans need to spread the load. Besides Wolvaardt, only Sune Luus reached 50 – twice – for the home side. That's too much on one player's shoulders, especially with the T20 World Cup looming in England next month.

Wolvaardt was satisfied: "We have a bit of momentum heading into the tournament. There are still a few areas where we can be better. I'm excited to work on them before the tournament starts."

South Africa meet India in a T20 World Cup match at Old Trafford on June 21.