Laura Wolvaardt has added another remarkable chapter to her international career after the South Africa captain became the leading run scorer in women’s T20Is in a calendar year. Her latest milestone came during a dominant performance against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Tuesday, September 15.
The right handed batter smashed an unbeaten 126 from 62 deliveries in the third T20I, helping South Africa post 200/1 before Zimbabwe were bowled out for 120. The 80 run victory also gave the Proteas an unassailable 3-0 advantage in the five match series. Her knock included 16 fours and four sixes, with a strike rate above 200. It was also a new career best in T20Is for the South African skipper, surpassing her previous highest score of 115* against Ireland in December last year. Natasha Miles occupies second place after scoring 800 runs in 27 WT20Is for Hong Kong in 2026. Her best score during the year has been an unbeaten 100, while she has also recorded one century and six fifties. United Arab Emirates batter Esha Oza is third on the list with 779 runs from 22 matches in 2025. Her campaign included a highest score of 113, along with two centuries and three half centuries. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu follows with 720 runs from 21 WT20Is in 2024. She produced a best of 119 not out that year, alongside two hundreds and four fifties. Wolvaardt also features on the list for 2024, when she scored 673 runs in 19 WT20Is, including a best of 102, one century and three fifties.
The innings was also Wolvaardt’s fourth T20I hundred. The century took her overall international hundred tally to 18, putting her level with India’s Smriti Mandhana for the most hundreds in women’s international cricket, according to the ICC.
Wolvaardt’s individual achievement came alongside another commanding team performance. South Africa reached 200/1 before restricting Zimbabwe to 120, securing an 80 run win and taking a 3-0 lead in the five match series. Annerie Dercksen claimed a career best 5/15, while Karabo Meso remained unbeaten on 50.
