Match 22, Colombo, October 21, 2025, 03:00 PM

South Africa Women
312/9(40.0ov)
Pakistan Women
83/7(20.0ov)

South Africa Women beat Pakistan Women by 150 runs (DLS method)

Another long day in Colombo, but at least the shortened game produced a result. So far, we have had just a couple of complete games of cricket in this World Cup in the Sri Lankan capital, and in the rest, the weather has dictated terms and conditions. South Africa Women go top of the table with 10 points, whereas Pakistan's hopes for a top-four finish, if any, have been extinguished. Next up in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is a blockbuster clash in Indore as two of the fiercest rivals in the sport go head-to-head. It is Australia Women versus England Women at the Holkar Stadium. Both sides have already booked their spots in the semifinals, but a high-octane contest is guaranteed. That game will be played on 22nd October, Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 9.30 am GMT. Join us for the pre-match buzz and analysis an hour earlier. Till then, take care, cheers.
The victorious skipper of South Africa Women, Laura Wolvaardt, beams with satisfaction after a commanding win. She says scoring 312 in just 40 overs felt really good, calling it a complete team effort. Praises Marizanne Kapp for her brilliance yet again and Nadine de Klerk for her sensational finishing touch. Adds that it was the kind of batting performance they’ve been aiming for, someone anchoring up top, control in the middle, and fireworks at the end. Talking about their bowling plans, she mentions that there was a bit in the surface early on, and both Kapp and Khaka used it beautifully to their advantage. She’s also glad that all four of their spinners got a chance to bowl, something that doesn’t happen often in shortened games. Concludes by saying it was a day where everything clicked, and she’s proud of how her team executed across all departments.
The captain of Pakistan Women, Fatima Sana, reflects on the defeat. She admits that the bowlers didn’t bowl well and that South Africa dominated the game from start to finish. She stresses the need to stay calmer under pressure and noted that the scenario before the rain break had been very different. Fatima admits the batting struggled as conditions became tricky after the interruptions, and though they aimed to bowl at the stumps, their plans weren’t executed properly. Says that ultimately, nothing went their way. She adds that the pitch was decent for batting before the break, but they failed to build meaningful partnerships. She concludes by saying that the players need to back their strengths and play their natural game.
South Africa's Marizanne Kapp is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her impressive all-around performance. She says that it has been a beautiful wicket to bat on and admits feeling a bit annoyed that they didn’t get to use all 50 overs. Adds that they had a lot of fun out there, crediting Wolvaardt and Sune for setting up a solid platform, which made it easier for her to come in and play freely. Mentions giving herself some time to settle in before accelerating and says she enjoys batting at number 5, especially alongside the lower order. Reflecting on her bowling, Kapp admits that she wasn’t entirely happy with how she bowled today. Feels that she’s bowled better in the last few matches, but was still lucky to end up with three wickets. Praises the collective effort of the bowling unit and hopes the group continues to build on this rhythm and deliver even better with each game.
... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...
Earlier in the game, Pakistan won the toss and bowled first, and Fatima struck straight away to send Tazmin Brits packing for a duck before rain washed out over two hours of play. When the game resumed and was cut to 40 overs a side, Wolvaardt and Luus came out swinging, punishing anything off target and cruising to fifties in a 118-run stand that set the tone. From there, Pakistan’s bowling fell apart, with wayward lines, absolute freebies, and sloppy fielding that just made it worse. A late wobble gave them a sniff of keeping South Africa under 300, but De Klerk’s breezy cameo and Kapp’s effortless 68 slammed that door shut, as South Africa smashed 72 off the last five overs. Nashra and Sadia picked up three apiece, but everyone got taken for a ride.
South Africa were eager to secure a result out of this truncated game and grab two crucial points to move to the top of the table, and they got just that. There was still a touch of late drama when play resumed one final time, but Nondumiso Shangase picked up two wickets after the break, and Laura Wolvaardt and her side comfortably wrapped up the win. With five victories in six games, South Africa Women now sit on 10 points and are shaping up as a side to beat. Looks like that stinging defeat against England in their opening game has just fueled the fire in the Proteas camp.
Chasing a DLS adjusted target of 306 was always beyond Pakistan's reach, and they never really got going. Sidra Amin offered some resistance first up, but Marizanne Kapp tore through the top order with a three-for, while Ayabonga Khaka also struck early before rain intervened again. The match was then chopped and trimmed multiple times, and eventually reduced to a 20-over chase after multiple delays, leaving the target well out of reach. Only Natalia Pervaiz and Sidra Nawaz could cross the 20-run mark, with no momentum whatsoever.
Smiles all around the South African camp after another dominant display. The rain kept cutting the game short, coming and going like it couldn’t make up its mind, but the Proteas still ran Pakistan ragged in every department. Acknowledging the relentless work of the ground staff amid constant rain interruptions, the South African players gave them a round of applause, appreciating their hard work and military precision. And for sure, without their relentless efforts, we would not have gotten the result from this game. Unsurprisingly, the rain has started pouring again in Colombo, but it doesn't matter now. Interestingly, this marks the first time South Africa Women have strung together five consecutive wins in a World Cup.
In over# 20
0W
0
1
1
1wd
4
0
Chloe Tryon 9/0(2)
OUT! RAMEEN SHAMIM IS RUN OUT! Short and wide outside off, Sidra Amin remains deep in her crease and cuts it towards backward point. Both batters run for a single but remain a bit casual in their approach. The fielder there, Nadine De Klerk, moves to her left a bit and fires a one-bounce throw to the keeper after picking up the ball. The keeper, Karabo Meso, collects the throw and dislodges the bails before Rameen Shamim can drag her bat inside the crease. The leg umpire gets a confirmation from the third umpire and she raises her finger to call it a RUN OUT. So after a while, finally, this match has received its result. South Africa Women have defeated Pakistan Women by 150 runs, DLS adjusted.
19.6
W
OUT! RAMEEN SHAMIM IS RUN OUT! Short and wide outside off, Sidra Amin remains deep in her crease and cuts it towards backward point. Both batters run for a single but remain a bit casual in their approach. The fielder there, Nadine De Klerk, moves to her left a bit and fires a one-bounce throw to the keeper after picking up the ball. The keeper, Karabo Meso, collects the throw and dislodges the bails before Rameen Shamim can drag her bat inside the crease. The leg umpire gets a confirmation from the third umpire and she raises her finger to call it a RUN OUT. So after a while, finally, this match has received its result. South Africa Women have defeated Pakistan Women by 150 runs, DLS adjusted.
19.5
.
Tossed up, full and around off, drilled down to mid off from the front foot.
19.4
1
DROPPED! Full and outside off, Rameen Shamim uses her feet and looks to heave away but gets a top edge that lobs up towards mid off. The fielder there backtracks but fails to grab it over her head, and spills out. A single is taken.
19.3
1
Short and around off, dabbed down towards backward point for one.
19.3
1wd
WIDE! Quicker, full but down the leg side. Sidra misses her sweep. Called a wide.
19.2
4
FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Sidra Nawaz shuffles across, waits back and cuts it to the left of backward point for a boundary.
19.1
.
Floated up, full and around off, Sidra Nawaz gets across on her front foot and drives it to cover.
In over# 19
1
1
1
0
0
1lb
Sune Luus 3/0(1)