Dominant South Africa Women registered their fifth consecutive win in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, defeating Pakistan Women by 150 runs (DLS method) in the 19th match played today (21st October) at the R. Premadasa Stadium. With this win, South Africa climbed to the top of the points table with 10 points, while Pakistan became the second team to be eliminated from the semifinal race.
After choosing to bowl first, skipper Fatima Sana provided a perfect start for Pakistan, striking in her first over to dismiss Tazmin Brits. A healthy edge found Natalia Pervaiz in the slip cordon, as the South African opener registered her third duck of the tournament.
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However, rain continued to disrupt the tournament in Colombo, and this time, it arrived after just two overs. Following a delay of more than two hours, play resumed at 5.30 PM, with the match reduced to 40 overs per side.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus then stabilized the South African innings, taking their side past the three-figure mark inside 15 overs. The pair stitched together a brilliant 118-run partnership off just 92 balls before Nashra Sandhu provided the breakthrough, dismissing Luus for a well-made 61. With 25 runs added to the total after that wicket, the new batter Annerie Dercksen was also run out.
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Wolvaardt, after reaching her third fifty in four innings, continued to score freely and shared another half-century stand with Marizanne Kapp, which also came at better than a run-a-ball. Unfortunately, Wolvaardt’s fine knock ended 10 runs short of a well-deserved hundred. Karabo Meso fell for a three-ball duck as Sandhu picked up two wickets in the same over, leaving South Africa at 212/5.
Runs continued to flow freely as Kapp first shared a 41-run stand with Chloe Tryon before adding a blistering 52 off just 20 balls with in-form Nadine de Klerk. It was de Klerk who did most of the damage, hammering 41 off 16 deliveries. Kapp remained unbeaten on 68 off 43 balls as the Proteas finished strongly on 312/9 in their 40 overs.
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Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 45 in 8 overs — the only Pakistani bowler to maintain an economy rate below 6. Sadia Iqbal was expensive but also claimed three wickets.
In reply, Pakistan received a revised target of 306 in 40 overs. But the South African pacers made early inroads, reducing them to 35/4 within 9 overs. Ayabonga Khaka struck first before Kapp picked up three wickets in two successive overs.
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Rain interrupted again an over later. After multiple stoppages, play resumed at 10.20 PM with Pakistan chasing a revised target of 262 in 25 overs. But the resumption lasted only two overs as the rain returned once more. At 10.40 PM, play resumed again, this time with Pakistan’s target further revised to 234 in 20 overs.
In the process, Pakistan lost three more wickets, finishing with 83 runs in their 20 overs and handing South Africa a massive victory. Only Sidra Nawaz and Natalia Pervaiz managed to reach the 20-run mark, while Nondumiso Shangase chipped in with two wickets.
Brief Scores:
South Africa Women – 312/9 (40) Laura Wolvaardt 90, Marizanne Kapp 68*, Sune Luus 61, Nadine de Klerk 41, Nashra Sandhu 3/45, Sadia Iqbal 3/63
Pakistan Women – 83/7 (20) Sidra Nawaz 22*, Natalia Pervaiz 20, Marizanne Kapp 3/20, Nondumiso Shangase 2/19, Ayabonga Khaka 1/14
South Africa Women won by 150 runs. (DLS Method)
 in the 19th match played today (21st October) at the R. Premadasa Stadium. With this win, South Africa climbed to the top of the points table with 10 points, while Pakistan became the second team to be eliminated from the semifinal race.){kind=link}