As the sun sets on another thrilling day of cricket in the Caribbean, a new star in South African women’s cricket has achieved a rare and coveted milestone. Nonkululeko Mlaba, the 24-year-old left-arm spinner, completes 100 international wickets, a feat that not only celebrates her persistence and talent but also marks her as one of the game’s modern greats in the making.
The story of Nonkululeko Mlaba’s meteoric rise began on September 24, 2019, in Surat, India. Barely 19, she was handed her maiden T20I cap against an Indian side bristling with experience. What followed was a steady, determined climb, each spell, each wicket, forging her reputation as South Africa’s premier spin option.
In T20 internationals, Mlaba’s numbers are as impressive as her calm presence on the field. Across 59 innings, she has claimed 51 wickets at an average of 24.13 and an economy rate of 6.27, evidence of her consistency and effectiveness in the shortest format. Her ability to both contain runs and pick crucial wickets reached its zenith during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. In their opening clash against the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Mlaba spun a web with figures of 4-0-29-4, earning herself the Player of the Match award and reaffirming her status as a match-winner.
Mlaba’s ODI journey began at Durban on January 20, 2021, against Pakistan. Over 34 innings, she has tallied 36 wickets at an average of 36.58, with a tidy economy rate of 4.82. While her numbers suggest a bowler who thrives on patience and accuracy, her ability to deliver on the big stage was on full display during the recently concluded white-ball series against the West Indies. Her standout moment came on June 14, 2025, in Barbados, where her four-wicket haul ensured South Africa stayed in the hunt in a closely contested series.
Despite limited opportunities in the red-ball format, Mlaba has made an indelible mark. With 13 wickets from 6 innings at an average of 37.38 and an economy of 3.79, she has shown adaptability and stamina. Her magnum opus arrived in Bloemfontein during the one-off Test against England in December 2024, where she ripped through the opposition with a 10-wicket haul, bagging 6 for 67 in the third innings and 4 for 90 in the first, cementing her legacy in South African cricketing folklore.
As South Africa battles the West Indies in a riveting T20I series, Mlaba’s artistry with the ball continues to shine. She topped the wicket-takers’ chart in the ODI series for South Africa, having snared 7 wickets at a stunning average of 11.42 and an economy rate of 3.47 in three innings. She also ended the ODI series as the 2nd highest wicket-taker, after Afy Fletcher from the West Indies.
With 100 international wickets to her name across formats, Nonkululeko Mlaba has joined cricket’s elite club of centurions. She achieved the landmark when she cleaned up Shabika Gajnabi for a duck in the 8th over of the West Indian innings. She eventually finished with impressive match figures (4-0-18-1) and was one of the stand-out performers with the ball for South Africa in the 1st T20I of the three-match series. South Africa took the T20I series lead with a comprehensive 50-run win in the 1st game of the series.
But beyond the numbers lies a tale of grit, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. At just 24, the left-arm spinner has already inspired a generation and set new benchmarks for South African women’s cricket.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.