South Africa: 220-2 20 Overs

Laura Wolvaardt 115* (56) Sune Luus 81 (51); Ava Canning 1-33

Ireland: 115 all out 18 Overs

Leah Paul 34 (23), Gaby Lewis 30 (29); Sune Luus 4-22

South Africa won by 105 runs

Ireland's tour to South Africa had a tough initiation in Johannesburg as an extraordinary innings from Laura Wolvaardt powered the hosts to a 105-run victory, which is their heaviest defeat in T20Is.

After being put into the field, Ireland made an ideal start when Jane Maguire struck in her opening over, removing Tazmin Brits, bringing Wolvaardt to the crease early. However, from that moment on, the momentum shifted firmly away from the visitors.

Batting positively from the onset, Wolvaardt blazed to her fifty in just 24 balls and went on to record the fastest South African century in women’s cricket. The milestone also made her part of the select group of women from the Full Member nations with multiple T20I hundreds, having previously scored 102 against Sri Lanka in 2024. The 52-ball ton was also the fastest century by a Proteas women.

She was complimented by Sune Luus 81 (55), with whom she strung up a 176-run partnership for the second wicket before Luus was bowled by Ava Canning.

Dane Van Niekerk scored a blitz 21 from eight balls to take the total up to 220-2, the highest total ever by the side, a massive boost from their previous highest total of 183- 6.

Ireland got off to the worst possible start, losing Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast in the first over, with Luus striking twice, leaving Ireland at 4-2 without two of their biggest players. 

Skipper Gaby Lewis 30 (29)  and Leah Paul 34 (23) did put up a moment of resistance, however Wolvaardt topped off her incredible performance in the match with the catches of Lewis and Paul, as Ireland failed to find their footing in unfamiliar away conditions and were bundled to 115 all out.