At 34, South Africa’s seasoned top-order batter Tazmin Brits added another jewel to her cricketing career, becoming the latest entrant into the 3,000 international runs club.
The milestone arrived in style during the first ODI against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 16th September 2025, where Brits crafted a composed, unbeaten 101 from 121 balls. Her clinical innings, studded with nine boundaries, not only guided South Africa to an 8-wicket victory but also sealed the landmark moment in a fashion befitting her stature.
Partnering alongside Marizanne Kapp, who celebrated her own brilliance with an unbeaten 121 off 128 balls, Brits was part of a record-breaking 216-run stand for the third wicket, rewriting the history books in South Africa’s ODI cricket. The partnership propelled South Africa to a convincing 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series hosted by Fatima Sana’s Pakistan side.
Brits’ ODI journey began on 26th January 2021 against Pakistan in Durban, and since then, she has steadily evolved into a dependable run-getter atop South Africa’s order. Her Lahore ton was her fifth century in the format, taking her total ODI runs to 1,248 at an average of 33.72 and a strike rate of 75.72 across 38 innings.
Among her most memorable ODI innings, the standout came on 23rd December 2023 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, where she smashed 118 against Bangladesh to headline a mammoth 216-run victory. That innings, laced with eight boundaries and two sixes, underlined her ability to shape games single-handedly.
Now, with another three-figure score against Pakistan in their own backyard, Brits has positioned herself as one of South Africa’s most reliable ODI performers heading into the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
Brits made her international debut in the T20I format on 19th May 2018 against Bangladesh at Bloemfontein, and her white-ball career quickly began to flourish. In 68 T20Is, she has accumulated 1,719 runs at a strike rate of 106.63 and an average of 32.43, bolstered by 14 half-centuries. A hallmark of her T20 game has been her ability to balance composure with explosive finishing.
Her personal best came earlier this year on 20th June 2025 against the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados, where she blasted an unbeaten 98 off 63 balls, peppered with nine boundaries and four sixes. The innings powered South Africa to a 50-run win and earned Brits the Player of the Match award. Such performances underscore her value as a match-winner across formats.
While white-ball cricket has defined Brits’ career, she has also donned South Africa’s whites, debuting in a one-off Test against Australia on 15th February 2024 at the W.A.C.A, Perth. Though opportunities in the longest format have been rare, with just two innings yielding 36 runs at an average of 18, her adaptability and technical foundation give her the tools to contribute when Tests surface on the women’s cricketing calendar.
Brits’ milestone arrives at a timely juncture, just weeks before the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The marquee event, scheduled from 30th September to 2nd November, will feature eight top sides, with South Africa opening against England at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on 3rd October (3 PM IST).
Led by Laura Wolvaardt, the Proteas will lean heavily on the experience and form of Brits, not least because her blend of consistency and flair provides a vital anchor to South Africa’s chasing and batting ambitions in the tournament.
From her breakthrough debut to now becoming a 3,000-run scorer, Brits has scripted a story of perseverance, maturity, and reliability. The Lahore innings not only secured her milestone but also cemented her status as one of the pillars of South Africa’s batting. Going into the World Cup, she will carry the weight of expectation but also the confidence of a player in prime form, qualities that could define South Africa’s push for a maiden ICC title.
