Pakistan achieved a clean sweep against the T20 World Cup runners-up by successfully defending a target of 151, winning by six runs in Karachi on Monday night.

The Proteas have been dealing with internal issues as reports of discord among players led to a letter to Cricket SA expressing their desire for a coaching change.

Laura Wolvaardt, who earned the Player of the Series award against Pakistan, was appointed interim captain for the Pakistan tour and the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Coach Hilton Moreeng, whose contract expired in June, was also re-signed in an interim capacity until the year’s end. Cricket SA has advertised for a new coach.

Wolvaardt emphasized her team’s commitment to cricket amidst the coaching situation. She stated, “We are focusing on our cricket here. We plan our meetings around the games and we were fully focused on what we needed to do to get the job done.”

All three matches were decided in the last over, with Pakistan successfully chasing 151 in the first two matches before defending the same total in the final match.

Despite Wolvaardt’s stellar performance, highlighting her strike rate of 124.6 as the best among the Proteas, it underscored a persistent issue for the team. While other teams like Australia, England, and India have adopted more aggressive strategies, South Africa struggles to increase their scoring rates.

South Africa faced too many dot balls, a recurring problem they’ve discussed but not effectively addressed on the field. This issue persisted throughout the series, with more than 40 dot balls absorbed in two matches and 38 in the second game.

Wolvaardt acknowledged Pakistan’s strong performance, particularly in adapting to their home conditions, rotating the strike effectively, and delivering impressive bowling.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled Laura Wolvaardt as the interim captain of the Proteas Women’s cricket team. Wolvaardt, a dynamic top-order batter, will lead the squad during the imminent tours against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Wolvaardt’s appointment follows the departure of Suné Luus from her role as interim captain and the unavailability of vice-captain Chloe Tryon for the Pakistan series. Wolvaardt’s role will be reviewed after the conclusion of the inbound tour from New Zealand.

Laura Wolvaardt, a Cape Town native, made her international debut at a tender age of 16 in an ODI match against England in 2016. Her impressive journey in international cricket has seen her rise to third place on the all-time ODI runs scorer’s list for Proteas Women. She has accumulated 3,193 runs with an average of 45.61, including 29 fifties and three centuries in 80 matches. In T20Is, she has showcased her prowess with 1,079 runs, seven half-centuries, and a career-best score of 66* against Bangladesh during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Wolvaardt’s emergence as a standout player has extended beyond national boundaries. Her participation in global T20 leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League, The Hundred, and the Women’s Premier League in India has added to her international acclaim.

Expressing her excitement about her new role, Wolvaardt stated that the captaincy presents an opportunity to expand her role within the team and enhance her cricketing acumen. She aims to leverage her experience and calm demeanor on the field to contribute not only as a batter but also as a leader.

Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Director of Cricket, hailed Wolvaardt’s appointment, praising her dedication, leadership skills, and cricketing prowess. Nkwe emphasized that her composure under pressure and deep understanding of the game make her a suitable candidate to lead the team.