Women's World Cup, South Africa crush sorry Sri Lanka: Stats
What's the story
South Africa have moved a step closer to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finals after a dominating 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo. The match was reduced to 20 overs a side due to rain, but that didn't stop South Africa from completing their fourth successful chase of the tournament. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were instrumental in the chase, both scoring half-centuries to guide their team home with 5.1 overs remaining.
Match interruption
Mlaba shines with 3 wickets as SL post 105/5
Sri Lanka, batting first, managed to score 46 runs for the loss of two wickets in 12 overs before rain interrupted play. After a five-and-a-quarter-hour delay, they returned to add another 59 runs in eight overs but lost five wickets in the process. Nonkululeko Mlaba was South Africa's star with the ball, taking three wickets for just 30 runs and restricting Sri Lanka to a chaseable total.
Stellar performance
Wolvaardt, Brits guide SA to a comfortable win
In the chase, Wolvaardt and Brits put up their highest opening stand of this World Cup. They dealt with Malki Madara's early swing well, with Wolvaardt even hitting her over mid-on. The duo took South Africa past their target comfortably, with Brits finishing off the match in style with a six over mid-wicket. This victory has significantly boosted South Africa's chances of making it to the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Information
Mlaba races to 49 wickets in Women's ODIs
Mlaba bowled 4 overs and clocked 3/30. In 42 matches, Mlaba has raced to 49 wickets at 32.28. As per ESPNcricinfo, versus Sri Lanka, Mlaba owns 7 wickets from 5 WODI matches at 21.42.
Partnership
Partnership record for Wolvaardt and Brits
Wolvaardt and Brits brought up their 7th century-plus stand in Women's ODIs. This is now the joint-2nd most century-plus partnerships for the opening wicket, as per Cricbuzz. Most century stands for the opening wicket in Women's ODIs 10 - Belinda Clark, Lisa Keightley (AUS-W) 7 - Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) 7 - Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (AUS-W) 7 - Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W)
Records
Unique records made by South Africa
This is South Africa's sixth win by 10 wickets in Women's ODIs. This is also their second 10-wicket win in World Cups after they'd chased down the 49-run target with 262 balls to spare vs WI-W at Leicester in 2017. The Proteas Women posted their joint-longest winning streak in Women's WC. Before this, they'd won four on the bounce in the 2022 edition.
Duo
Key stats of Wolvaardt and Brits
Wolvaardt scored a 47-ball 60*. Her knock was laced with 8 fours. She has now raced to 4,831 runs from 115 matches at 48.79. This was her 37th fifty in WODIs (100s: 9). In 20 World Cup matches, she owns 937 runs at 55.11. This was her 11th World Cup fifty. Brits' unbeaten 55 from 42 balls had 4 fours and 2 sixes. She has amassed 213 runs from 10 World Cup games (100s: 1, 50s: 1). Overall, she has 1,580 runs at 38.53 (100s: 7, 50s: 3).
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SA-W rise to 2nd in the standings
With their 4th win, SA-W are 2nd in the standings with 8 points from 5 matches. They have virtually booked their place in the semi-finals. SL-W are 7th with 2 points from 5 matches.