Laura Wolvaardt overtakes Mithali Raj to become youngest woman to play 100 ODI matches

When South Africa Women (SA-W) Captain Laura Wolvaardt was handed the leadership mantle, the cricketer had quipped that she did not expect that she would be bestowed with the role so early in her career. But recently, Laura has got another reason now to cherish as she surpassed the former India skipper and legend, Mithali Raj to become the youngest female to make 100 ODI appearances.

At 25 years and 226 days, she not only broke Mithali’s record of 25 years and 273 days, but she is also the 10th Proteas Woman to have featured in 100 ODIs. However, her 100th game turned out to be a forgettable one, as South Africa suffered a six-wicket defeat against England. Laura on the other hand scored 35 runs as the hosts dealt with a batting collapse and were bowled out for 135 runs. 

As a result, England Women (ENG-W) levelled the series by winning the game by six wickets. The third ODI, which is also the decider will be played at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, on December 11. 

Laura Wolvaardt leaving a mark with scintillating performances

Speaking of the 25-year-old, she made her ODI debut at the age of 16 against England in February 2016. She went on to score her maiden ODI fifty in her very second match against England. After almost five months, she scored her first century during South Africa’s tour to Ireland in July 2016 with a remarkable 105, as she also became the youngest South African to score an ODI hundred.

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After having played in 100 ODIs so far, Laura Wolvaardt has scored 4,242 runs in the format. Besides, when the 25-year-old had completed 1,000 ODI runs in January 2018, she was the youngest South African to do so. The Cape Town-born achieved this feat at the age of 17 years and 105 days. She was South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the 2022 ODI World Cup, which was held in New Zealand. She scored 33 runs in eight matches with five half-centuries.