Wolvaardt, Luus crush Ireland in series opener

Laura Wolvaardt's second T20I ton powered South Africa to a massive 105-run win over Ireland in the first T20I at Cape Town. Sune Luus also starred in an all-round capacity, scoring 81 with the bat and picking up four wickets with the ball, as Ireland were bowled out for just 115 in pursuit of a 221-run target.

Opting to bat first, South Africa lost Faye Tunnicliffe in the second over but it was all one-way traffic in the opposite direction thereafter. Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt, batting at number three, stitched a 176-run stand to deflate the Irish bowlers. While Luus fell to Ava Canning in the 18th over, Wolvaardt carried on and brought up three-figures an over later as South Africa posted a mammoth 220/2 in 20 overs. Dane van Niekerk, making her comeback, chipped in with an unbeaten 21 off just 8 balls.

In reply, Ireland were rocked early as Sune Luus removed both Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast in the very first over. Leah Paul stitched two useful partnerships, a 42-run stand with Gaby Lewis and a 31-run stand with Laura Delany, to ensure Ireland didn't capsize but it wasn't long before South Africa broke through to send Ireland spiraling again. They were eventually bowled out for just 115 in 18 overs to give the hosts an early lead in the three-match T20I series.

@B0$South Africa Women 220/2 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 115*, Sune Luus 81; Ava Canning 1-33) beat Ireland Women 115 all-out in 18 overs (Leah Paul 34, Gaby Lewis 30; Sune Luus 4-22) by 105 runs