Rising star Annerie Dercksen smashed her maiden international century, while Chloé Tryon recorded a fifty and a five-wicket haul to lead the Proteas Women to a 76-run victory over Sri Lanka in their final One-Day International (ODI) Tri-Series match on Friday.
Dercksen was in devastating form, hammering 104 off 84 balls (9 fours, 6 sixes), while Tryon added a powerful 74 from 51 deliveries (4 fours, 5 sixes) as South Africa piled on 315/9. Dewmi Vihanga was the standout bowler for the hosts, picking up a career-best 5/43.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 239 in the 43rd over, despite a fighting 52 off 57 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) from captain Chamari Athapaththu. Tryon starred with the ball too, bagging her first-ever ODI five-for with figures of 5/34, including a stunning hat-trick. In doing so, she reached the milestone of 50 ODI wickets and became only the third Proteas Women player to claim a hat-trick in ODI cricket, following in the footsteps of Masabata Klaas and Dane van Niekerk.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Sri Lanka had early success when Vihanga removed both openers, Laura Wolvaardt (33) and Tazmin Brits (38), after a solid 68-run stand. The off-spinner then ripped through the middle order, dismissing Lara Goodall (2), Miané Smit (8) and Sinalo Jafta (0), reducing South Africa to 89/5.
With the tourists’ innings in danger of unravelling, the in-form Dercksen entered the fray and began to assert herself on the opposition, initially in a 42-run partnership with Nondumiso Shangase (18) before teaming up with Tryon for a momentum-shifting 112-run partnership.
Dercksen became the first Proteas Women player to record three consecutive ODI half-centuries since Wolvaardt scored four fifties in 2022. She topped that up with her maiden ton and the fastest ODI hundred in women’s cricket for South Africa before eventually falling to Manudi Nanayakkara (1/40).
With South Africa on 239/7 with less than six overs remaining, Tryon took on the run-scoring mantle alongside all-rounder Nadine de Klerk (32*) to propel the Proteas past the 300-run mark before a wicket from Athapaththu (2/70) and a late run-out saw South Africa end on 315/9 after 50 overs.
Sri Lanka began their chase confidently through Hasini Perera (30) and Vishmi Gunaratne (24), but Tryon removed both to halt their momentum. Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) rebuilt with a 56-run partnership before Ayabonga Khaka (2/30) and debutant Seshnie Naidu (1/40) made key breakthroughs.
With Sri Lanka on 160/4, Khaka and the young Smit (1/35) combined effectively to dismiss Nilakshika Silva (14) and Nanayakkara (13) after they both got starts before Tryon took centre stage with the ball.
The experienced left-arm spinner struck with three consecutive deliveries in the 42nd over to rock the Sri Lankan lower order before a straightforward run out brought the contest to an end as the Proteas Women sealed a convincing victory to end their series on a high.
Sri Lanka will now take on India in the Tri-Series final on Sunday, 11 May at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium from 10h00 local time (06h30 SAST).
Proteas Women Squad – ODI Tri-Series
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Knights) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Fixtures – ODI Tri-Series
Sunday, 11 May @ 06h30 SAST – Final: India vs Sri Lanka (R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo)
