Indore/Patiala, 07 October (Sports Desk)
South Africa Women won by 6 wickets (with 55 balls remaining)
South Africa Women bounced back from their opening loss to England with a commanding 6-wicket victory over New Zealand Women in the seventh match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at Holkar Stadium, Indore. New Zealand, opting to bat first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 231 in 47.5 overs despite a valiant 85 from Sophie Devine on her 300th international appearance. Nonkululeko Mlaba’s career-best 4/40 triggered a collapse of 7 wickets for 44 runs from 187/3, with Marizanne Kapp (2/22) and Ayabonga Khaka (2/40) supporting. In the chase, Tazmin Brits’ fifth ODI century of 2025 (101 off 108; 9×4, 3×6)—a record for most centuries in a women’s calendar year—powered South Africa to 232/4 in 40.5 overs. Sune Luus (81* off 68; 7×4, 1×6) added an unbeaten 81 in a match-winning 159-run second-wicket stand. Amelia Kerr (2/62) was New Zealand’s best. Brits was Player of the Match. South Africa (1-1) rise to fourth with +0.78 NRR, while New Zealand (0-2) slip to fifth after two losses.
The win highlights South Africa’s batting depth and Mlaba’s emergence, while New Zealand rue a middle-order meltdown.
Toss and Playing XIs
- Toss: New Zealand Women won and elected to bat first (to set a target on a batsman-friendly pitch with potential dew).
- South Africa Women XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune. (Impact Sub: Chloe Tryon—used for batting.)
- New Zealand Women XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Brooke Halliday, Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green (c), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold. (Impact Sub: Rosemary Mair—used for pace.)
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New Zealand Women Innings: 231 all out (47.5 overs)
New Zealand’s innings featured a promising 86-run stand between Devine and Halliday, but Mlaba’s spin dismantled the middle order.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzie Bates | b Mlaba | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Georgia Plimmer | c Wolvaardt b Khaka | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Brooke Halliday | c Brits b Mlaba | 45 | 66 | 4 | 0 | 68.18 |
| Sophie Devine | c Luus b Mlaba | 85 | 100 | 7 | 1 | 85.00 |
| Amelia Kerr | c Kapp b Klaas | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Maddy Green (c) | c Jafta b Mlaba | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Jess Kerr | b Khaka | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Lea Tahuhu | c Luus b Kapp | 15 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Eden Carson | run out (de Klerk) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hannah Rowe | c Wolvaardt b Kapp | 17 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 89.47 |
| Molly Penfold | not out | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Extras | (lb 7, w 35) | 42 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 231 all out (47.5 overs) | 15 | 1 | 4.84 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Bates, 0.3 ov), 2-10 (Plimmer, 2.3 ov), 3-96 (Halliday, 20.3 ov), 4-187 (A. Kerr, 38.2 ov), 5-192 (Green, 40.1 ov), 6-194 (J. Kerr, 40.6 ov), 7-209 (Devine, 43.2 ov), 8-209 (Carson, 43.3 ov), 9-224 (Tahuhu, 44.6 ov), 10-231 (Rowe, 47.5 ov).
- Key Highlights: Powerplay: 56/2. Devine-Halliday 86-run stand; Mlaba’s 4/40 included Devine and Halliday.
- South Africa Bowling:
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Econ Nonkululeko Mlaba 9.5 0 40 4 4.14 Ayabonga Khaka 10 0 40 2 4.00 Marizanne Kapp 9 0 22 2 2.44 Masabata Klaas 9 0 65 1 7.22 Tumi Sekhukhune 10 0 54 0 5.40
South Africa Women Innings: 232/4 (40.5 overs, target 232)
Brits’ record-breaking century and Luus’ unbeaten knock made light work of the chase.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | lbw b J. Kerr | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Tazmin Brits | b Tahuhu | 101 | 108 | 9 | 3 | 93.52 |
| Sune Luus | not out | 81* | 68 | 7 | 1 | 119.12 |
| Marizanne Kapp | c Green b A. Kerr | 22 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Anneke Bosch | c Halliday b Mair | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nadine de Klerk | not out | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 12) | 13 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 232/4 (40.5 overs) | 20 | 4 | 5.70 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-10 (Wolvaardt, 3.1 ov), 2-169 (Brits, 32.2 ov), 3-211 (Kapp, 38.1 ov), 4-211 (Bosch, 38.4 ov).
- Key Highlights: Powerplay: 56/1. Brits-Luus 159-run stand; Brits’ 101 her 5th 100 of 2025 (record).
- New Zealand Bowling:
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Econ Amelia Kerr 10 0 62 2 6.20 Jess Kerr 8 0 45 1 5.63 Lea Tahuhu 8 0 35 1 4.38 Rosemary Mair 6 0 41 1 6.83 Hannah Rowe 4 0 29 0 7.25 Molly Penfold 4.5 0 20 0 4.21
Match Context and Key Notes
- Tournament Impact: South Africa (1-1) rise to fourth with +0.78 NRR; New Zealand (0-2) slip to fifth. SA aim to build on this against India; NZ face Bangladesh.
- Milestones: Brits’ 101 her 5th 100 of 2025 (women’s record, surpassing Mandhana’s 4 in 2024); Mlaba’s 4/40 career-best; Luus’ 81* her highest in WC.
