WODI WC: South Africa thrash Pakistan, win fifth successive match
What's the story
South Africa thrashed Pakistan in Match 22 of the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The Laura Wolvaardt-led side first compiled 312/9 in a rain-curtailed 40-over innings. Laura Wolvaardt (90), Sune Luus (61), Marizanne Kapp (68*), and a late blitz from Nadine de Klerk (41) powered SA. Pakistan later failed to chase the revised target of 234 (20 overs).
SA innings
SA recover well from early blow
SA's innings was a mix of aggression and resilience. Despite Tazmin Brits's failure (0), Wolvaardt and Sune Luus propelled the innings with a 118-run second-wicket partnership off 99 balls. The duo attacked the Pakistani bowlers, with Wolvaardt reaching her half-century in 42 balls. Luus was the second batter to depart, leaving SA at 123/2. She slammed a 59-ball 61 (8 fours and 2 sixes).
Middle overs
Middle-order batters keep SA afloat
Annerie Dercksen was run out after Luus's dismissal, giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope. However, Kapp and Wolvaardt quickly quelled those hopes with a 64-run partnership, which occurred before Wolvaardt's dismissal. Wolvaardt was on her way to a century when she was outfoxed by Nashra Sandhu (32nd over). She propelled SA past 200 before falling for an 82-ball 90 (10 fours and 2 sixes).
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Marizanne Kapp returns unbeaten
The match was interrupted by rain, reducing it to a 40-over-a-side contest. South Africa completed their innings at 312/9 in the allotted 40 overs. Kapp returned unbeaten on 68 off 43 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes).
Numbers
Notable numbers for the trio
Wolvaardt continues her sublime run, having struck her third 50-plus score of the ongoing tournament. She now has 4,921 runs from 116 WODIs at 49.21. This was her 38th WODI fifty. Meanwhile, Luus has raced to 2,640 runs from 139 WODIs at 25.88, including 17 half-centuries. In 159 WODIs, Kapp has completed 3,465 runs at 35.72. This was her 17th WODI half-century.
Feats
Wolvaardt attains these feats
During the match, Wolvaardt became the first South African to complete 1,000 runs in the Women's World Cup. According to ESPNcricinfo, she became the joint-fastest to this landmark, equaling Suzie Bates (21 innings). Wolvaardt also surpassed the great Belinda Clark in terms of WODI runs. The Aussie great scored 4,844 WODI runs in her career. Wolvaardt now has the sixth-most runs in WODIs.
Pakistan innings
Pakistan falter in run chase
Pakistan were first set a target of 306 runs in 40 overs according to the DLS method. More rain interruptions reduced it to 234 runs in 20 overs. The Women in Green never got going as they were down to 35/4 in the ninth over. Sidra Nawaz (22*) top-scored as Pakistan were restricted to 83/7 in 20 overs. Kapp took three wickets.
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Kapp shines with three wickets
After shining with the bat, Kapp made her presence felt by rolling her arm over. She took three wickets for just 20 runs in five overs. While Nondumiso Shangase scalped two wickets, Ayabonga Khaka chipped in with a wicket.
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SA go atop the standings
South Africa, who were already in the semi-finals, went atop the 2025 WODI World Cup points table after beating Pakistan. They have five wins in six games. Meanwhile, bottom-placed Pakistan are all but out of the race.