South Africa make it five out of five to go table top

Wednesday, 22 October 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

South Africa secured their fifth win in a row for the first time in a Women’s Cricket World Cup match when they beat Pakistan by a massive 150 runs (DLS method) in a rain hit match played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday to go on top of the table with 10 points with one game to play.

In a stop-start match due to rain Pakistan set an improbable target of 234 to chase in 20 overs finished on a disappointing 83-7 to remain at the bottom of the table with 2 points and no win.

South Africa produced a stunning display from their batting order racking up an imposing 312-9 off 40 overs – the highest score on this ground in this tournament surpassing the previous best of 258 scored off 50 overs. Tazmin Brits fell for a duck early after South Africa were invited to bat first, but Laura Wolvaardt (90 off 82 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) and Sunne Luus (61 off 59 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) after a lengthy rain break added 118 off 93 balls for the second wicket and that set the pace. Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp (68* off 43 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) added 64 off 53. Then Kapp and Chloe Tryon (21) and a 16-ball 41 (3 fours, 4 sixes) from Nadine de Klerk who added 52 off 20 with Kapp pushed South Africa above the 300-run mark. Pakistan were very sloppy and dropped several catches apart from their poor ground fielding. They were well off the boil in what was a must-win game for them. Only Nashra Sandhu impressed with the ball with the others taken for plenty.

Scores: South Africa Women 312-9 (40) (Laura Wolvaardt 90, Sune Luus 61, Marizanne Kapp 68*, Chloe Tryon 21, Nadine de Klerk 41, Sadia Iqbal 3/63, Nashra Sandhu 3/45)

Pakistan Women 83-7 (20) (Natalia Pervaiz 20, Sidra Nawaz 22*, Marizanne Kapp 3/20, Nondumiso Shangase 2/19) – [ST]