The 25-year-old South African captain Laura Wolvaardt excelled at the CSA Annual Awards 2024, mirroring her dominance in the women’s cricket scene this year. The awards were categorized into seven distinct sections, including Women’s Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year, T20I Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, Fan’s Player of the Year, and the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award.
Women’s Player of the Year
Captain Laura Wolvaardt has been the exceptional performer for South Africa in all three formats this year. Consequently, she has surpassed the other three nominees Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, and Masabata Klaas to secure this esteemed award.
She has topped the run-scoring charts for South Africa in the T20I format this year, amassing 311 runs at an impressive strike rate of 135.21 and a remarkable average of 44.42 across eight innings. This total includes a couple of half-centuries and a century. Her finest batting display occurred on 27th August 2024 when she achieved her first T20I century (102 off 63 balls) in the opening T20I of the series against Sri Lanka, earning her the Player of the Match award. She was closely trailed by Marizanne Kapp (295 runs in 9 innings).
Additionally, she stands as South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the ODI format with 542 runs at a strike rate of 95.75 and an astounding average of 90.33 in nine innings. Her run total comprises three centuries and a half-century, including her career-best performance (184* off 147 balls) on 17th April 2024 in the 3rd ODI at Potchefstroom.
She maintained her exceptional form in the red-ball format, scoring 154 runs at a strike rate of 40.52 and a solid average of 38.50 across four innings. She ranks as South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer in the red-ball format this year, behind the former captain Sune Luus (205 runs at a strike rate of 47.01 and a phenomenal average of 51.25 in four innings). Captain Laura Wolvaardt also recorded her first century (122 off 314 balls) in the red-ball format against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai.
Women’s ODI Player of the Year
The Proteas captain has emerged victorious over four other nominees Ayabonga Khakha, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, and Nadine de Klerk to obtain this prestigious honor.
25-year-old South African captain Laura Wolvaardt has showcased her prowess in the ODI format this year. She is the highest run-scorer with 542 runs at a strike rate of 95.75 and an impressive average of 90.33 in nine innings. Her total includes three centuries and a half-century, with her top batting effort occurring on 17th April 2024 when she remained unbeaten on 184* (147 balls), carrying her bat for the entire innings, despite it being in a losing effort in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka at Potchefstroom. This is also her highest score in the ODI format.
Women’s T20I Player of the Year
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt has surpassed the three other nominees Masabata Klaas, Nadine de Klerk, and Tazmin Brits to earn this distinguished accolade in the annual awards.
She has topped the run-scoring charts for South Africa in the T20I format this year, scoring 311 runs with a remarkable strike rate of 135.21 and an impressive average of 44.42 across eight innings. This total features a couple of half-centuries and a century, with her best showing on 27th August 2024 when she recorded her first T20I century (102 off 63 balls) in the first T20I of the series against Sri Lanka, closely followed by Marizanne Kapp (295 runs in 9 innings).
Women’s Newcomer of the Year
The young 21-year-old all-rounder Eliz-Mari Marx debuted internationally on 3rd December 2023 in a T20I against Bangladesh, followed shortly by her ODI debut on 16th December 2023 against Bangladesh.
She was named the Women’s Newcomer of the Year 2024. Eliz-Mari Marx has participated in four matches, claiming one wicket in three innings with the ball for her team. In addition to her bowling contributions, she has accumulated 12 runs in three innings with the bat in the T20I format.
In the ODI format, she has taken four wickets across four innings with the ball. She has also scored 18 runs in three innings with the bat in the ODI format for her team this year.
Women’s Players’ Player of the Year
Captain Laura Wolvaardt’s presence, respect, and admiration among her teammates led her to win the Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award.
Fan’s Player of the Year
Captain Laura’s performances across all formats for South Africa, along with the affection and admiration she has garnered from her fans, enabled her to surpass the other three candidates Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, and Nonkululeko Mlaba to earn the title of Fan’s Player of the Year.
Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award
The 33-year-old experienced pacer Masabata Klaas took four wickets in five innings with the ball in the T20I format. Besides her bowling contributions, she also scored five runs in a single inning with the bat for her team.
In the ODI format, she achieved 9 wickets in seven innings with the ball for her team. Her top bowling performance came on 10th February 2024 at the North Sydney Oval, Sydney in the 3rd ODI against Australia. Alongside her bowling feats, she also contributed five runs in three innings with the bat.
In the red-ball format, she captured three wickets in two innings with the ball. Additionally, she also scored 15 runs in four innings with the bat for her team. Consequently, she was honored with the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award.
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