AI Simulation, PAK-W vs SA-W | Wolvaardt leads from front with batting brilliance to help SA Women beat Pakistan Women by 23 runs

ByUmesh Sharma,SportsCafe Editor

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According to ChatGPT, South Africa Women will beat the Pakistan Women by 23 runs in the 22nd game of the ongoing Women’s World Cup 2025. Laura Wolvaardt’s captaincy knock of 72 (94) and her partnerships with Sune Luus and Tazmin Brits will help the Proteas Women outplay the Women in Green.

SA Women skipper and opener, Laura Wolvaardt

Pitch and Weather

The surface at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is expected to be a flat one, with even bounce, but expected to slow under the lights.

The weather on Tuesday in Colombo will be hot and humid, with dew likely to play a crucial role as the game progresses to the second innings.

Toss

South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first.

Lineups

Pakistan Women XI: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.

South Africa Women XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Match Report

After opting to bat first, South Africa Women had a brilliant opening start of 63 runs in 13.5 overs, by the opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. Diana Baig gave Pakistan Women the first breakthrough, dismissing Brits, at the individual score of 34 runs off 49 balls, with four fours. She was caught by Muneeba Ali on the fifth ball of the 14th over. Then came another crucial 72-run partnership for the second wicket between skipper Wolvaardt and number three batter Sune Luus. Wolvaardt was dismissed by Nashra Sandhu on the second ball of the 29th over, after playing an amazing knock of 78 runs off 92 balls, with seven fours. Her half-century was followed by Luus’ 41 (47), with three fours and a six. Later in the innings, Marizanne Kapp (26) and Chloe Tryon (38) helped the Proteas Women post 242/7 on the board in the allotted 50 overs. Diana Baig and Fatima Sana scalped two wickets each for the Women in Green, alongside a wicket each picked by Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal.

Pakistan had a cautious and brilliant start to their run chase, with an opening partnership of 72 runs in 15.4 overs between Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin. This partnership ended when Muneeba was caught by Chloe Tryon off Masabata Klaas on the fourth ball of the 16th over. She scored 44 runs off 62 balls, with five fours, followed by Sidra Amin’s 61 runs off 89 balls, with six fours. However, none of the Pakistan Women’s batters stayed too long in the middle apart from the Muneeba-Sidra duo. Eyman Fatima and skipper Fatima Sana scored 22 and 25 runs, respectively, but their efforts couldn’t help their side cross the line. Eventually, Pakistan were restricted to the score of 219/9 in the entire 50 overs, falling 24 runs short of the target. Masabata Klaas bagged three wickets for 42 runs in her 10 overs, including a maiden over. She was accompanied by Marizanne Kapp (2/37) and Nadine de Klerk (2/40) to help SA Women restrict the Pakistan Women before the target. With this win, South Africa Women have also continued their dominance in the ongoing Women’s World Cup 2025, moving to the top spot in the tournament standings.

Player of the Match

South Africa Women’s star batter Laura Wolvaardt won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for her composed and anchored knock of 78 runs off 92 balls, with seven fours. Besides that, her partnerships with Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus helped SA Women post a fighting total on the board in the first innings.