Luus Leads the Charge: South Africa Prevail Thanks to Batting Heroics

Luus Leads the Charge: South Africa Prevail Thanks to Batting Heroics, powered South Africa to a dominant 7-wicket victory over Ireland in the first Women’s ODI. Luus also claimed a key wicket.

Luus Leads the Charge: South Africa Prevail Thanks to Batting Heroics

East London, 13 December 2025 – In a commanding display of calculated aggression and clinical finishing, South Africa Women secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the first One-Day International at Buffalo Park. The victory was masterminded by an outstanding, unbeaten partnership between Player of the Match Sune Luus and the promising Miane Smit, who transformed a potentially tricky chase into a straightforward cruise.

Ireland’s Innings: Steady Start, Faltering Finish

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ireland showed determination on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. Their innings, reduced to 47 overs per side, was built on solid, if unspectacular, contributions from the top order.

Openers Gaby Lewis (14) and Sarah Forbes (42 off 71 balls) established a decent foundation, weathering the early South African pace attack. Forbes, in particular, looked assured, compiling four boundaries before falling leg-before to the deceptive leg-spin of Sune Luus in the 22nd over, breaking a 48-run second-wicket stand. Amy Hunter (32 off 50) then took over, adding valuable runs alongside Orla Prendergast (28 off 44).

However, the middle overs saw the Proteas bowlers, led by the spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba and the pace of Tumi Sekhukhune, tighten the screws. Sekhukhune (2/32) chipped away at the top order, while Mlaba (3/43) bamboozled the lower-middle order, claiming the crucial wickets of Laura Delany and Leah Paul in quick succession.

Ireland’s momentum was consistently disrupted, but a vital late cameo from Rebecca Stokell (an unbeaten 39 off 48 balls) ensured they crossed the 200-run mark. Stokell’s resilience, combined with Cara Murray’s late support, pushed the Irish total to a respectable 209/7 in their allocated 47 overs.¹ The Proteas bowling effort was exemplary in restricting the scoring rate, with Mlaba’s economic spell being a highlight.

South Africa’s Chase: The Luus and Smit Masterclass

Chasing a target of 210, South Africa’s innings had a mixed start. Opener Laura Wolvaardt fell cheaply (6), followed by the dismissals of Lara Goodall (20) and Tazmin Brits (27) to the bowling of Cara Murray, leaving the Proteas teetering slightly at 86/3 in the 15th over. The Irish side sensed an opening, but this quickly evaporated as Sune Luus and Miane Smit walked to the crease.

The duo launched a formidable fightback, completely neutralizing the Irish attack with a blend of clever stroke play and superb running between the wickets. Luus, taking on the role of the senior partner, played with her characteristic freedom, finding gaps effortlessly and punishing anything loose. Smit, meanwhile, settled quickly and rotated the strike efficiently, building confidence with every boundary.

Luus brought up her half-century off 60 balls, while Smit quickly followed suit, reaching her fifty off 63 deliveries.² Their partnership was a clinic in ODI batting, building a monumental, unbeaten stand of 125 runs off just 135 balls. Luus finished on a magnificent 66 not out off 72 balls (six fours), and Smit on a composed 56 not out off 70 balls (seven fours).

The partnership guided South Africa to the target with remarkable ease, reaching 211/3 in just 36.5 overs, securing a resounding seven-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the series. The commanding manner of the win, driven entirely by the heroics of Luus and Smit, underlines the Proteas’ depth and quality in the 50-over format.

Luus Leads the Charge

The performance by Sune Luus, both with the ball and the bat, earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award, highlighting her crucial role as an all-rounder in the team’s success. The two sides will now look ahead to the next ODI, where Ireland will be desperate to level the series.