Full name Yvonne van Mentz Role Cricket Player Name Yvonne Mentz | Unknown Southern Transvaal National side South Africa | |
Test debut 2 December 1960 v England women Last Test 13 January 1961 v England women | ||
Yvonne van Mentz is a former South African cricketer. She scored South Africa's first century in Women's Test cricket, with an unbeaten 105 against England in the fourth Test played during the 1960–61 season. An all-rounder, she played four Test matches for South Africa, taking eight wickets and scoring 186 runs.
Career
All of van Mentz's appearances for South Africa occurred during the England women's cricket team tour of South Africa in 1960–61. She first faced England during a warm-up match for the touring side, appearing for Southern Transvaal. Batting as part of the top order, she top-scored for her side, scoring nine fours as part of her 68 runs. She also opened the bowling for Southern Transvaal, but bowled for 15 overs without taking a wicket. In the first Test against England, she batted at number seven, and made scores of 11 and 15 in the two innings. She also claimed three wickets in the match. After playing for a South African XI against England without making a significant impact, van Mentz was South Africa's leading wicket-taker in the second Test, taking four wickets as England declared their innings closed on 351 for 6. She then scored 17 and 11 in each innings as South Africa were forced to follow on, eventually forcing a draw. She had little impact in the third Test, making scores of three in both innings, and taking no wickets. In the fourth Test, van Mentz scored South Africa's first century in women's Test cricket, remaining 105 not out when South Africa declared on 266 for 8. The match eventually concluded as a draw. Her score is the highest of just two centuries by South African women in Test cricket, the other being a total of exactly 100 by Brenda Williams.She still holds the record for the highest test score by any woman cricketer when batting at number 6 position(105*) and she was the first female cricketer to score a test ton when batting at number 6 position or lower in Women's test history