The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo turned into a battleground on Tuesday evening, as South Africa unleashed a cricketing storm, crushing Pakistan by a whopping 150 runs under the DLS method in the 22nd match of the ICC Women’s World Cup. With the clock striking 12:23 AM PKT on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Pakistan now stares at their last shot at redemption against Sri Lanka on Friday, October 24.
Proteas Power Up with a Rain-Defying Batting Blitz
Tossed the bat after losing the toss, South Africa hit a rough patch early, slumping to 6 for 1 by the second over before rain stole the spotlight. After a weather-induced reset, the game shrank to 40 overs per side, and the Proteas roared back. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt lit up the scoreboard with a dazzling 90 off 82 balls, peppering the field with 10 fours and 2 sixes. Marizanne Kapp (68* off 43, 6x4s, 3x6s) and Sune Luus (61 off 59, 8x4s, 2x6s) joined the party with fiery fifties, while Nadine de Klerk’s 41 kept the momentum. Despite a valiant effort from Pakistan’s spinners Nashra Sundhu (3-45) and Sadia Iqbal (3-63), South Africa posted a towering 312 for 9.
Pakistan’s Chase Drowns in DLS Chaos
Faced with a revised DLS target of 306 in 40 overs, Pakistan’s batting order faltered from the get-go. Muneeba Ali edged out for a scratchy 5 off 5, and the collapse deepened with Omaima Sohail (6), Sidra Amin (13), and Aliya Riaz (3) falling cheaply within nine overs. Rain interruptions threw another curveball, tweaking the target to 234 in 20 overs when Pakistan were 48 for 4 after 12. Despite Sidra Nawaz’s fighting 22* and Natalia Pervaiz’s 20, the Green Shirts could only crawl to 83 for 7, sealing a lopsided defeat.
Kapp’s All-Round Magic Seals the Deal
Marizanne Kapp stole the limelight, snaring 3 wickets for 20 runs to dismantle Pakistan’s hopes, earning her the Player of the Match crown. Nondumiso Shangase chipped in with 2-19, rounding off South Africa’s clinical performance. Pakistan’s bowlers showed grit, but their batting let the side down under mounting pressure.
Match Stats
| Team | Score | Overs | Top Scorers | Key Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 312-9 | 40 | Wolvaardt 90, Kapp 68*, Luus 61 | Sundhu 3-45, Iqbal 3-63 |
| Pakistan | 83-7 | 20 | Nawaz 22*, Pervaiz 20 | Kapp 3-20, Shangase 2-19 |
| Result | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa won | 150 runs (DLS) | Marizanne Kapp |
With their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread, Pakistan must regroup for a do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka on Friday, October 24, at 12:23 AM PKT. Can they rise from the ashes, or will this defeat mark the end of their campaign? The cricketing world waits with bated breath!
