Nonkululeko Mlaba

Nonkululeko Mlaba (born 27 June 2000) is a South African cricketer who plays as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.^[1] She made her international debut for the South Africa women's cricket team in September 2019.^[2][3]

Nonkululeko Mlaba

Mlaba playing for South Africa during the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Nonkululeko Mlaba
Born	(2000-06-27) 27 June 2000 (age 25) Durban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	South Africa (2019–present)
Test debut (cap 63)	27 June 2022 v England
Last Test	28 June 2024 v India
ODI debut (cap 86)	20 January 2021 v Pakistan
Last ODI	23 June 2024 v India
T20I debut (cap 55)	24 September 2019 v India
Last T20I	27 November 2024 v England
T20I shirt no.	28
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2015/16–present	KwaZulu-Natal Coastal
Career statistics
Competition WTest WODI WT20I Matches 3 26 60 Runs scored 32 20 16 Batting average 8.00 2.85 4.00 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 Top score 15 9 5* Balls bowled 493 1,242 1,153 Wickets 3 21 50 Bowling average 109.66 46.47 24.26 5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 Best bowling 2/74 3/39 4/29 Catches/stumpings 0/– 10/– 4/–
Medal record Representing  South Africa Women's Cricket T20 World Cup Runner-up 2023 South Africa Runner-up 2024 UAE
Source: Cricinfo, 28 November 2024

Career

In September 2019, she was named in South Africa's squad for their series against India.^[4] She made her Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) debut for South Africa, against India, on 24 September 2019.^[5] In January 2020, she was named in South Africa's Women's One Day International (WODI) squad for their series against New Zealand.^[6] Later the same month, she was named in South Africa's squad for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.^[7]

In July 2020, Mlaba was named newcomer of the year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards ceremony.^[8] By 23 July 2020, Mlaba was named in South Africa's 24-woman squad to begin training in Pretoria, ahead of their tour to England.^[9]

In January 2021, she was named in South Africa's Women's One Day International (WODI) squad for their series against Pakistan.^[10][11] She made her WODI debut for South Africa, against Pakistan, on 20 January 2021.^[12]

In February 2022, she was named in South Africa's team for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.^[13] In May 2022, Cricket South Africa awarded Mlaba with her first central contract, ahead of the 2022–23 season.^[14] In June 2022, Mlaba was named in South Africa's Women's Test squad for their one-off match against England Women.^[15] She made her Test debut on 27 June 2022, for South Africa against England.^[16] In July 2022, she was named in South Africa's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.^[17]

She achieved a remarkable milestone as the first South African women cricketer to record a 10 wicket haul in a test match when South Africa played a once-off test in December 2024 against England.^[18]

She was named in the South Africa squad for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup^[19] and for their multi-format home series against England in November 2024.^[20][21] During the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup she recorded her international T20 career best against the West Indies of 4/29.^[22] South Africa were runner-ups in that tournament.