Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Tuesday, 7 October 2025 03:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| Nonkululeko Mlaba opened floodgates for South Africa with Brooke Halliday’s wicket | Sophie Devine brings up her fifty in her 300th game for New Zealand | Sune Luus helped Tazmin Brits in match stand of 159 | Tazmin Brits celebrates her century for South Africa |
South Africa bounced back in style after the hammering they got from England in their opening game to beat New Zealand by 6 wickets with 55 balls to spare at Indore yesterday to pick up their first points in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
It was a commanding victory for South Africa who chased down the target of 232 well inside 41 overs. What a turnaround this was after their batting collapsed against England, where they were bowled out for 69. Yesterday, they looked completely different. New Zealand seemed in control at 195-4, but the South African bowlers turned the game on its head from there, tightening the screws and triggering a collapse that saw the White Ferns fold up for 231. Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was the star with the ball, delivering a brilliant spell of 4/40 to suffocate the opposition towards the later stages.
Marizanne Kapp struck with the very first ball of the game, sending Suzie Bates back for her second consecutive duck. The ball moved around early, and South Africa maintained relentless pressure, which soon brought the wicket of Amelia Kerr. New Zealand’s innings was drifting when Sophie Devine walked in and launched a counterattack, adding 86 quick runs off 75 balls with Brooke Halliday to steady things. Devine scored 85 off 98 balls (9 fours) and Halliday (45 off 37 balls, 6 fours). But once that partnership was broken, the collapse was swift - the last 7 wickets fell for just 44 runs. The pitch wasn’t exactly a batting paradise as Mlaba proved in her second spell, taking 4/18 in 5 overs. New Zealand knew they had fallen well short of a competitive total.
In reply, South Africa’s openers came out firing, setting the tone with a flurry of boundaries. Laura Wolvaardt was trapped lbw by Jess Kerr, but the partnership of 159 off 170 balls between Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus sealed the deal. Brits played with intent, finding the fence regularly to score 101 off 89 balls (15 fours, 1 six), while Luus held the fort with a calm and composed innings of 83* off 114 balls (10 fours, 1 six). South Africa lost a few wickets towards the end, but they always had the situation under control. Player of the Match Brits’ brilliant century capped off a perfect day for South Africa.
Scores:
New Zealand Women 231 (47.5) (Georgia Plimmer 31, Amelia Kerr 23, Sophie Devine 85, Brooke Halliday 45, Nonkululeku Mlaba 4/40)
South Africa Women 234-4 (40.5) (Tazmin Brits 101, Sune Luus 83*, Amelia Kerr 2/62)
