South Africa Vs Pakistan Highlights, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Rain Plays Spoiler But SA-W Still Emerge Victorious

Hello and welcome to our continued live coverage of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. South Africa are set to lock horns with Pakistan in match number 22 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Stay tuned with us for the build-up, weather report, toss update and latest match updates.

South Africa Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka

Pakistan Squad: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana(c), Sidra Nawaz(w), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah, Sadaf Shamas, Eyman Fatima, Shawaal Zulfiqar

Unfortunately, there are high chances of rain today in Colombo and a possible washout could also be on the cards. It will be yet another cloudy day with chances of a shower in the afternoon followed by periods of rain in the afternoon. The temperature in Colombo will range from a high of 28 degrees to a low of 24 degrees. Notably, there are 90% chances of rain with 97% of cloud cover.

Fatima Sana has won the toss in Colombo and has asked South Africa to bat first.

South Africa XI: Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (WK), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

Pakistan XI: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (C), Sidra Nawaz (W), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

With Humidity being very high at 89%, it was a good toss to win for Pakistan and choosing to bowl first. The initial 10 overs are going to be very important for both the teams. Mithali Raj, from the centre, claimed that 270 runs could be scored on this surface. As many as 4 matches in Colombo have come out with no result due to rain, let's hope it will not be the case today.

We are underway in Colombo for match number 22 between South Africa and Pakistan. SA-W skipper Laura Woolvaardt bags a four off the first ball from Sadia Iqbal.

Matches played - 31

SA-W Wins - 23

PAK-W Wins - 6

No result - 1

Tie - 1

First breakthrough for Pakistan and it's their skipper Fatima Sana, who strikes first. Sana bowled a length and outside off delivery and made the ball move away from Tazmin Brits, who was deep into the crease and ended up throwing her hands. The ball took an outisde edge and landed safely on Natalia Pervaiz's gloves.

We were just 2 overs into the match and rain comes falling down in Colombo. Right after Tazmine Brits' dismissal, the game has been stopped indefinitely due to rain. Let's hope it is just a passing shower. Stay tuned for the updates.

It is not looking good in Colombo. The entire ground has now been covered as the intensity of the rain has increased drastically. The dark clouds are coming in thick and fast. Both South Africa and Pakistan players are looking into the sky with extreme frustration.

Marizanne Kapp - 677 runs from 22 matches

Laura Woolvaardt - 572 runs from 16 matches

Sidra Amin - 463 runs from 13 matches

Bismah Maroof - 451 runs from 24 matches

Sune Luus - 445 runs from 19 matches

Good news. Rain has stopped in Colombo and the ground staff are peeling the covers off the ground. Although there are potential threats of another rain stoppage later in the day but for now, the covers are being taken off. Stay tuned with us for more updates.

Australia (Q): 5 matches, 4 wins, 0 losses, NRR of +1.818 and 9 points

England (Q): 5 matches, 4 wins, 0 losses, NRR of +1.490 and 9 points

South Africa (Q): 5 matches, 4 wins, 1 loss, NRR of -0.440 and 8 points

India - 5 matches, 2 wins, 3 losses, NRR of +0.526 and 4 points

New Zealand - 5 matches, 1 win, 2 losses, 2 No results, NRR of -0.245 and 4 points

Sri Lanka - 6 matches, 1 win, 3 losses, 2 No results, NRR of -1.035 and 4 points

Bangladesh - 6 matches, 1 win, 5 losses, NRR of -0.578 and 2 points

Pakistan - 5 matches, 0 wins, 3 losses, 2 No results, NRR of -1.887 and 2 points

As it appears, the rain has stopped and the conditions have also brightened up with the Umpires making assessments of the ground. The Super Soppers are out too. Official update on the resumption of the game is coming in soon. Stay tuned.

Oh no, the rain is back once again in Colombo. Just as the Super Soppers were trying to dry the field, the dark clouds opened up yet again. Only 2 overs were bowled when the match was suspended over an hour ago. We will surely see reduction in overs, if and when the match resumes, which is very unlikely.

Match number 22 between Pakistan and South Africa could be resumed any time as the rain has stopped completely and the ground staff have peeled off most of the covers in Colombo.

Match number 22 of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has resumed in Colombo. Laura Woolvaardt and Sune Luus will look to set up a strong foundation with Pakistan hoping to pick more wickets.

It will now be a 40-over affair in Colombo. The first powerplay will be of 8 overs for both the sides. 5 bowlers can bowl a maximum of 8 overs and the target will be revised, too, in accordance with the DLS method.

South African skipper Laura Woolvaardt and 1st down batter Sune Luus have gained total control of the proceedings in Colombo right after the resumption. The Proteas Women are 50 up and are tackling the Pakistani bowling attack very well. Fatima Sana and co need a wicket to shift the momentum by their side.

Since the resumption, Laura Woolvaardt and Sune Luus have been dismantling the Pakistani bowling attack with both also approaching their respective half-centuries. SA-W are scoring at a run rate of nearly 7 and have also reached triple figures.

Left-arm offie Nashra Sandhu gets the major breakthrough wicket of Sune Luus, who was looking absolutely dangerous in the middle. Pakistan will be relieved to break the 117-run partnership between Luus and Laura Woolvvaardt, but the Women in Green still have a lot of work to do.

A major mix-up in the middle between Laura Woolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen sees the latter depart from the crease through a run-out by skipper Fatima Sana. The highest scorer in PAK-W Vs SA-W WODIs - Marizanne Kapp arrives.

Skipper Laura Woolvaardt has not looked back since taking off at the resumption of the 1st innings. She is well and truly playing out a captain's knock and is just 21 runs away from a well-deserved century.

Laura Woolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp have kept the Pakistani bowling attack quiet, since the run-out of Annerie Dercksen. Woolvaardt and Kapp have stitched a very good partnership for the 4th wicket. 

This one will hurt the South African skipper a lot. Laura Woolvaardt, who was looking in a great touch since the start of the 1st innings, has been dismissed by Nashra Sandhu for 90. Woolvaardt tried to move off the crease but Sandhu bowled a classic left-arm off spin delivery that spun away from her. Great work done by Natalia Pervaiz from behind the stumps.

Nashra Sandhu has been Pakistan's best bowler today without a shadow of doubt. After sending Woolvaardt back for a heart-breaking 90, she removes Karabo Meso in a similar fashion. The Women In Green getting the breakthroughs very late in the 1st innings.

Veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp scores a fantastic half-century and helps South Africa get to 250 with 4 overs to go.

Brilliant piece of wicket-keeping by Natalia Pervaiz to get rid of Chloe Tryon. This was Pervaiz's 3rd stumping of the match.

It's raining boundaries here at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as South Africa just one 6 away from 300. Nadine de Klerk is looking on absolute fire as she has smacked 2 fours and 4 sixes already and Marizanne Kapp is not missing out either.

Nadine de Klerk departs for 41 off 16 at a mind boggling strike rate of 256. Yes 256. Since coming to the crease, de Klerk has been smacking the ball out of the park. Thanks to her exceptional quickfire knock, the Proteas have crossed the 300-run mark.

What an ending that was to the South African innings in Colombo. Nadine de Klerk really had set the stage on fire with her outstanding 41 off just 16 at a daunting strike rate of over 250. Marizanne Kapp also played some explosive shots towards the end and helps her side post a target of over 300 on the board. Pakistan, after a dismal bowling performance, will need a lot of stability as well as aggression when they come out for the chase shortly.

That's the kind of start Pakistan needed in order to chase the mammoth target of 306 from 40 overs. Muneeba Ali has started the innings with a four off the first ball by Marizanne Kapp. The Women in Green will need a lot of patience and resilience to chase the total down.

Muneeba Ali what have you done? The left-handed opening batter, who had the responsibility of getting Pakistan to a good start, has departed for 5. She literally threw her wicket while trying to send Ayabonga Khaka's short-length delivery for a six.

Sharp and straight from Marizanne Kapp! She pitches it up just fuller than a good length, nipping back in off the seam. Omaima is caught flat-footed on the crease, neither forward nor back, and it thuds into her pad right in front. Huge appeal from Kapp, and the finger goes up. Sohail goes for 6.

Score after 6.3 overs

PAKW 31-3

Huge moment in the game! Kapp strikes again and removes the in-form Sidra Amin. This wasn’t even her best ball, short and wide outside off, but Sidra goes chasing it with a flashing cut. The timing isn’t there, probably off the toe-end, and a thin edge carries through to the keeper. Meso takes it cleanly and lets out a roar! South Africa know how big this wicket is. Sidra goes for 13.

Score after 7 overs

PAKW 32-3

Kapp is on fire! Another textbook display of seam bowling from the experienced South African. She pitches it up on a good length, a hint of swing away outside off, Aliya Riaz is rooted to the crease, pokes at it with hard hands, and gets the faintest of edges. Meso behind the stumps makes no mistake. Riaz goes for 3.

Score after 9 overs

PAKW 35-4

The drizzle has turned a bit steadier now, rain has picked up, and the groundstaff are quick to react, rushing in with the covers. The players are making their way off the field as umbrellas pop up in the stands. Thankfully, it doesn’t look too heavy at the moment. Just a light spell, we hope, fingers crossed it’s only a passing shower so we can get back to some action soon.

Score after 10 overs

PAKW 35-4

Good news, the rain has stopped! We can see the groundstaff hard at work, busy mopping up the outfield. Some of the covers are already coming off, and there’s a bit of buzz returning to the stadium. It’s going to take a little while before the ground is fit for play again, but we’re getting there. Stay tuned, resumption updates coming soon.

The main covers is off and hopefully we'll soon see the players coming into the field as well. Pakistan would surely love to fight from here, even though it's pretty tough to chase the target now.

And we’re all set to resume! The covers are completely off, the umpires have had a final look, and the players are back out in the middle. The rain delay has brought a revised target, Pakistan now need 262 in 25 overs under the DLS method.

Oh no, the rain’s back just after the two overs, and this time it’s really coming down! The umpires waste no time in calling the players off as it absolutely buckets over the ground. South Africa walk off with disappointed faces; they were well on top before the heavens opened again.

Score after 12 overs

PAKW 48-4

We are back again. The revised target is 234 in 20 overs. So, a win is out of equation for Pakistan now while South Africa are set for a big Net RunRate boost.

Clever bowling from Shangase and another one bites the dust for Pakistan! She tosses it up just outside off, inviting the drive. Natalia Pervaiz skips down the track, looking to go over the infield, but only manages a faint outside edge. Sharp work from Meso behind the stumps, she gathers cleanly and completes the dismissal in style. Pervaiz goes for 20.

Score after 15 overs

PAKW 66-5

Another one crashes into the stumps! Shangase strikes again, and Pakistan sink further. It’s a length delivery outside off, turning back in slightly. Fatima Sana rocks back to cut, but the ball’s too close to her, a thick inside edge, and it ricochets back onto middle stump. Sana goes for 2.

Score after 16.4 overs

PAKW 70-6

And that’s the final nail in the coffin! A length ball outside off, Sidra Nawaz goes for the cut to backward point. The ball races to Nadine de Klerk, who fires in a pinpoint throw to Karabo Meso, the stumps are broken, and Rameen Shamim can’t make it home. Needed a dive, but it didn’t come. South Africa claim a massive win, dominating with both bat and ball.

Score after 20 overs

PAKW 83-7

The showers finally relented just in time to allow a 20-over match, and South Africa made the most of it. Pakistan never really got into the chase, and at one point, it looked like the rain might gift them a point. But the play resumed, and South Africa executed their plan perfectly. Marizanne Kapp struck early with three crucial wickets, setting the tone, while the batters posted a massive total that left Pakistan reeling.

Once the target was set, it was just a matter of how convincingly South Africa would win, with rain being the only looming threat. With this commanding victory, South Africa soar to the top of the table, while Pakistan’s hopes are dashed, and they are now eliminated from the competition.

Thank you for joining us in the live coverage.