DRIVING TO SUCCESS

Photos: BackpagePix | photosport.nz By: Stuart Hess

Laura Wolvaardt’s shot-making is of a style that makes traditionalists swoon.

If you were looking for one of those oil painting type innings from Laura Wolvaardt — the ones with the exquisite cover drives; up, over or through the inner ring — then her third OneDay International century was not for you.

Wolvaardt is one of the superstars of the women’s international game with her shot-making normally of a style that makes traditionalists swoon. Not on this occasion. This was an innings of hard graft, fierce concentration and determination.

It was five years ago in England, then still a 17-year-old school girl, where Wolvaardt stole everyone’s hearts with that scrumptious cover drive in her first appearance at the ICC Women’s World Cup.

But here the now 22-year-old had her favourite boundary option cut off by a fielder from the first over. The West Indies succeeded in cramping her room, not allowing that drive to be unleashed, and forced Wolvaardt to locate new scoring areas.

Wolvaardt’s ability to expand her game is crucial to South Africa’s chances at this month’s World Cup in New Zealand. The Proteas’ opponents would have noted the Windies’ attempt to stifle Wolvaardt’s most potent weapon.

The fact that she still found a way – flicking balls off her legs or shifting her weight onto the back foot to manipulate the bowler’s length allowed her to pull deliveries through the leg side – is testament to different skills she has acquired. This will serve her well that she got this kind of stiff examination and succeeded.

LEFT: The former teenage sensation has matured into one of the super stars of the women’s game.

“It definitely wasn’t the easiest innings,” Wolvaardt said. “They bowled quite well up front, I was a bit tentative outside off-stump and nearly nicked off a couple of times. It was really hot and I had to work really hard to get singles. It was a big physical effort, but I’m really happy I got to the hundred. It’s been a while since I scored a hundred for South Africa, so to get there was amazing.”

South Africa will hope that Wolvaardt reuniting with her beloved opening partner and current ICC ODI Player of the Year Lizelle Lee, who missed the series against the Windies, will be the beginning of the road to World Cup glory.

The pair form one of the most lethal combinations in world cricket.

Wolfvaardt unleashes her famous cover drive.

“Lizelle is a world-class player and I enjoy batting and opening with her,” Woldvaardt said. “I’m happy with where my game is at the moment. We’ve been playing a lot of T20 cricket, so it’s really nice to shift my focus back to 50-over cricket.

“I’m really excited for the upcoming World Cup. It’s a massive event and things are coming right for me, so hopefully all goes well for me.”

RIGHT: “I enjoy batting and opening with her (Lizelle Lee)”.