| Lorna Ward | |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Fullname: | Lorna Grace Ward |
| Birth Date: | 1939 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| Female: | true |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm fast |
| Role: | Bowler |
| International: | true |
| Internationalspan: | 1960–1972 |
| Testdebutdate: | 2 December |
| Testdebutyear: | 1960 |
| Testdebutagainst: | England |
| Testcap: | 11 |
| Lasttestdate: | 24 March |
| Lasttestyear: | 1972 |
| Lasttestagainst: | New Zealand |
| Club1: | Natal |
| Club2: | Southern Transvaal |
| Year2: | 1971/72–1974/75 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | WTest |
| Matches1: | 7 |
| Runs1: | 52 |
| Bat Avg1: | 5.77 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 17 |
| Deliveries1: | 1,420 |
| Wickets1: | 27 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 17.29 |
| Fivefor1: | 3 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 6/48 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 1/– |
| Date: | 6 March |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/17/17388/17388.html CricketArchive |
Lorna Grace Ward (born 3 June 1939) is a South African former cricketer who played as a right-arm pace bowler. She appeared in seven Test matches for South Africa between 1960 and 1972, taking 27 wickets including three five-wicket hauls. She is South Africa's leading wicket-taker in women's Test cricket.[1] She played domestic cricket for Natal and Southern Transvaal.[2] [3]
Playing in South Africa's first Test against the touring English side, Ward was the third South African to be run out in the first-innings as they posted a total of 211.[4] Bowling in the reply, Ward took four wickets in the first innings to help restrict the English to 187 runs, giving South Africa a small first-innings lead.[4] In a second innings in which South Africa captain Sheelagh Nefdt was criticised for not declaring earlier,[5] Ward made 17 runs in support of her captain as they added an unbeaten 52 for the ninth-wicket.[4] Ward was wicket-less in the fourth innings as England chased 284, the match eventually finishing in a draw with another 83 runs or 6 wickets required for a result.[4]
Ward had minimal involvement in the second Test; she only bowled two overs, taking no wickets and conceding seven runs, and as South Africa were forced to follow-on, she scored a duck in the first-innings and was 0 when the match finished in a draw in South Africa's second-innings.[6] She was again wicket-less in the third Test, conceding 74 runs in her 26 overs in the first-innings.[7] South Africa lost the match by eight wickets and, having been promoted to number nine, Ward only made seven runs in the two innings.[7]
The fourth Test saw Ward take a remarkable five-wicket haul in the first-innings. All five of her wickets were bowled as she finished the innings with 5/18.[8] She failed to take a wicket in the second-innings, bowling expensively for her 18 overs, conceding 44 runs as England set a total of 194 for South Africa to win.[8] In reply, South Africa managed a fast 126 from their 37 overs, but could not prevent the draw.[8]
Ward was named as part of the squad to play the unofficial Test matches against the Netherlands when England failed to fulfil their fixtures.[9] South Africa won all three Tests, and Ward claimed figures of 3/26 in the first-innings of the third Test followed by 4/36 in the second-innings.[10]
One of only three survivors from the squad that faced the touring English side in 1960–61,[11] Ward appeared in all three Tests against New Zealand eleven years later.[12] She started the series well, taking five wickets in New Zealand's first-innings.[13] She fell for another duck in the Springboks first-innings and didn't take a wicket in the second-innings as the match finished a draw.[13]
The South Africans bowled well in the first-innings of the second Test, with Ward, Gloria Williamson and Denise Weyers taking three wickets apiece to restrict the Kiwis to 168.[14] In reply, South Africa could only manage 111, and in spite of another three wickets from Ward, taking an economical 3/38 in her 28 overs, New Zealand declared 277 ahead.[14] South Africa were bowled out for 89 and lost the match.[14]
In her final Test, Ward achieved her best bowling performance, taking six wickets in the Kiwi's first-innings as they posted a lead of 98 runs.[15] As South Africa managed 242 in the second-innings, New Zealand returned to bat needing 148 runs to win.[15] Ward took 1/28 as the Kiwis finished just 31 runs short of their target.[15]