'Hard to come in and get going straight away, not sure how she did,' says Wolvaardt on Reyneke's batting heroics
Hamilton, March 17
In a thrilling contest at Hamilton on Tuesday, South Africa's young all-rounder Kayla Reyneke earned widespread praise from captain Laura Wolvaardt after her side levelled the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 1-1 with an 18-run victory.
Reyneke's explosive finishing act, three successive sixes off veteran Sophie Devine in the final over, lifted South Africa to a competitive 177/5 in the second T20I at Seddon Park. Though she scored just 28 not out from nine balls, her cameo proved decisive as New Zealand fell short while chasing the target.
"It was hard to sort of just come in and get going straight away, so I'm not too sure how Kayla did that. That was some really clean power hitting. It is really nice with the ball striking that we have in our lineup and to know that we have power like that still to come," Wolvaardt said after the match.
Reyneke, who previously captained South Africa to the final of the ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2025, earned her first senior international call-up last month during a home T20I series against Pakistan. She had made a mark in that debut series with 29 not out and two wickets to claim the Player of the Match award. Against the White Ferns, she replicated her impact with a crucial late-innings flourish, further boosting her credentials for selection at this year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
"It was pretty sick. Batting with Wolvaardt is a dream come true and I am happy to get a win for the team. Playing Under-19 cricket gives you a taste of international (matches), but it is not fully what you expect here and I am enjoying every moment in the setup," Reyneke said after the match.
Her performance not only swung the match in South Africa's favour but also underlined the emergence of a promising talent who could become a key figure in the Proteas' line-up for the upcoming global tournament.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's great to see young players making such an impact straight away. The transition from U19 to senior level is tough, but she seems to be handling it well. This is good for the sport's future.
While the hitting was impressive, I hope the focus remains on consistent performances, not just one-off cameos. The real test will be doing this under pressure in a World Cup semi-final or final. Still, a very promising start for her.
As a cricket fan living in India, I love seeing these emerging stories. The women's game is becoming so competitive and exciting. That kind of power-hitting in the death overs is exactly what teams need.
Captain's praise says it all. "Not sure how she did that" – coming in cold and hitting like that requires serious talent and nerve. Reminds me of some of our Indian finishers. The future of women's T20 cricket looks bright! 🔥
Great to see such a level-headed comment from the young player too. "Batting with Wolvaardt is a dream come true" – shows respect for the senior players. A good team culture is so important for nurturing new talent.
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