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- New Zealand vs South Africa Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: Tazmin Brits’ brilliant century guides SA to commanding win over NZ
New Zealand vs South Africa Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: Tazmin Brits’ brilliant century guides SA to commanding win over NZ
The victory was built on the twin brilliance of Tazmin Brits and Nonkululeko Mlaba. Mlaba produced a game-changing spell of 4/40, dismantling the New Zealand middle order and restricting the White Ferns to 231. She removed captain Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday and also contributed to a run-out, triggering a collapse that denied New Zealand the chance to reach a formidable total. The early dismissal of veteran Suzie Bates for a golden duck in her 350th international match added to the visitors’ woes.
Chasing 231, South Africa got off to a strong start, but the wicket of Laura Wolvaardt, trapped LBW by Jess Kerr, could have disrupted the chase. However, Brits and Sune Luus steadied the innings, constructing a record 159-run third-wicket partnership, South Africa’s highest in Women’s World Cup history. Brits’ 101 off 89 balls featured 15 fours and a six, while Luus contributed an unbeaten 81 from 114 balls, including nine fours and a six. Brits reached her fifty in just 44 balls, the fastest of her ODI career, and celebrated her century with a bow-and-arrow gesture toward teammates.
South Africa’s dominant win not only highlighted their batting and bowling depth but also boosted them from the bottom of the table to fifth place, improving their Net Run Rate from -3.773 to -1.424. New Zealand, meanwhile, remain at the bottom after two losses, with their next match against Bangladesh in Guwahati on October 10.
With this victory, South Africa Women have signaled they are serious contenders, blending explosive batting with disciplined bowling. Their next challenge comes against tournament hosts India in Visakhapatnam on October 9, setting up an intriguing clash between two in-form sides.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Much fuller and around middle, pushed down to mid on off the front foot.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, FOUR! New Zealand Women are getting going gradually! Khaka searches for swing and ends up serving it on the pads, on a full length. Amelia Kerr prods forward, gets inside the line and tickles it fine to deep fine for a boundary.
An interesting stat shared by Alan Wilkins on air. Suzie Bates hadn’t been dismissed for a duck since 2019 before this World Cup. Now, she’s had back-to-back ducks in the first two games.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Pitched up and outside off, Kerr strides forward and keeps it out to cover.
- Georgia Plimmer 4 (7)
- Amelia Kerr 5 (10)
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, FOUR! Not a good line by any means, and Kapp gets punished! Full and spraying it on the pads, Georgia Plimmer shifts her weight on the front foot, picks it up and lays just some part of the bat on it. Helps it on its way to deep fine leg for a boundary.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, On a length, swings back in, around off, Plimmer gets on top of the bounce and dabs it down to backward point.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, Another delivery which is moving away from the batter, wide outside off, on a length. Georgia Plimmer takes out her front leg forward and goes across before shouldering her arms.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, Kapp goes a bit wide, full and outside off, Georgia watches it carefully and lets it go to the keeper.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, Another hit-the-deck-hard delivery, around middle, angling in from wide of the crease, Plimmer gets behind the line and turns it towards mid-wicket.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, Back of a length and around off, Georgia Plimmer gets behind the line and taps it down back to the left of the bowler.
- Amelia Kerr 5 (10)
- Georgia Plimmer 0 (1)
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, MAIDEN! Full and around off, angling in, Kerr prods forward and pushes it to mid on. New Zealand Women are 5/1 after two overs.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Touch fuller than the previous delivery and the line is a bit closer to the off stump. Still, Kerr goes on her back foot and shapes up for a cut shot. Gets it chopped down off the inside half of the bat and the ball rolls down to cover point.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Short of a good length and wide outside off, Kerr rocks back and cuts it but straight to backward point.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Hard length and around off, dabbed down towards cover off the back foot.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Lovely bowling! A well-directed yorker, around off, Kerr gets a bit surprised but manages to jam it out back to the bowler.
Ayabonga Khaka to Amelia Kerr, Starts off with a hard-length delivery, around off, with some extra bounce. Amelia Kerr presses back, tries to defend it with a straight bat face but gets squared up. Gets a thin outside edge which falls down before first slip as she has played it with soft hands.
Ayabonga Khaka to operate from the far end.
- Georgia Plimmer 0 (1)
- Amelia Kerr 5 (4)
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Plimmer, Gets it swing back in, slightly fuller and around middle, pushed back to the bowler off the front foot. An excellent first over for South Africa Women.
Marizanne Kapp to Amelia Kerr, Back of a length, moving away, outside off, Kerr waits on her back foot and taps it down to the left of backward point for a single.
Marizanne Kapp to Amelia Kerr, FOUR! SPANKED! Touch short and a bit wide, outside off, Amelia Kerr extends her arms to reach out and slams it through the gap at extra covers for a cracking boundary to get off the mark.
Marizanne Kapp to Amelia Kerr, Lands it full and around middle, Kerr lets it arrive and tucks it to mid-wicket.
Marizanne Kapp to Amelia Kerr, On a length and moving away, outside off, dabbed down towards cover point off the front foot.
Amelia Kerr walks in at number 3.
Marizanne Kapp to Suzie Bates, OUT! LBW! Oh, what a start for South Africa Women! Beautiful seam presentation as Kapp hurls it on a length from over the wicket, angling in from wide of the crease, keeping the line around middle and leg. Suzie Bates gets a bit surprised by the early inswing, and the ball seems to remain a bit lower than she would have expected it to be. Bates tries to bring her bat down and defend it into the leg side, but misses. The ball beats the inside edge of the bat and gets rapped low on the front pad. A big appeal goes up from the bowler and the keeper for LBW. And the umpire raises her finger. Bates has a chat with her partner and sends it upstairs, more in hope. The third umpire is called in, and there is nothing on the UltraEdge. The Ball Tracking shows three reds, and the ball is projected to hit the leg stump. Bates walks back for a golden duck in her 350th international appearance. A duck against Australia, and a duck here as well for Bates. New Zealand are rocked early - 0/1.
All pre-match formalities are complete, and the stage is now set for the action to unfold in Indore. The two umpires walk out to the middle. Laura Wolvaardt leads her girls out as the Proteas take their respective positions on the field. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer are the two openers for the White Ferns. Marizanne Kapp has handed over her cap to the on-field umpire and is all set to bowl the first over of Match number 7 in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. The countdown is complete and here we go...
New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Bree Illing
However, a different pitch will be used this time, and overcast weather could offer early movement for seamers. Both teams will be eager to adapt quickly — especially after struggling with the bat in their first games.
Suzie Bates believes the team that adjusts faster will gain the upper hand. With both sides desperate for points, Indore’s changing conditions might just decide who walks away with their first win of the World Cup.
Despite having proven performers like Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Marizanne Kapp, the team remains over-dependent on its top order. Brits, however, has been a rare bright spot — scoring four centuries in ten ODIs this year.
As they prepare to face New Zealand, South Africa’s biggest challenge will be to bat deep and avoid another collapse that could end their campaign early.
The flags of both nations unfurl in the middle, which means, it is now time for the national anthems. Both sets of players walk out, followed by the match officials, and get lined up. This is the moment that reminds every player of the pride and purpose behind their game. It will be South Africa's first, followed by that of New Zealand.
With the top order faltering regularly, they have crossed 250 only twice in this period. Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, and Georgia Plimmer will need to step up if New Zealand are to stay alive in the tournament. Devine’s leadership and form remain vital, but the rest of the lineup must support her to avoid another early exit.
New Zealand lost by 89 runs to Australia, while South Africa were bowled out for just 69 against England. With both teams searching for rhythm, this match offers a chance to reset. Sophie Devine’s brilliant century went in vain, while Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits will look to lead South Africa’s recovery.
Expect a close battle as both sides chase their first win of the tournament.
Suzie Bates, one of the legends of New Zealand Women's cricket, is up for a quick chat before the start of play. Speaking on her 350th international appearance, she says that it feels like time has flown by and she can’t quite believe she’s worn the White Ferns jersey 350 times. What makes it even more special, she mentions, is sharing the occasion with Sophie Devine, who’s playing her 300th - calling it 'pretty surreal' that they’ve managed 650 games between them. Adds that she’s really looking forward to stepping out in what is a very important game for the team. Talking about the match ahead, she notes that a win would define their day, and every time she plays for New Zealand, her goal is to contribute to that cause. Notes that the group just needs to go out there, play with freedom, and express themselves. Recalls that they started well against a strong Australian side, and if they can build on that performance, they’ll have a great chance against South Africa today. About the surface, she says that it would be a good one to play on, and she expects a high-scoring match. Speaking about being involved in a runout in the last match, she calls it unfortunate and a shame to start the tournament, but she expects good things going ahead.
PITCH REPORT - Alan Wilkins and Aaron Finch are pitchside with their thoughts and analysis. Wilkins instantly notes that it is not as humid as Colombo. Informs that the square boundaries are 59 meters and 53 meters, while the straight hit is 67 meters. Finch joins him and shares that it looks like a great batting surface again. Also highlights that the pitch used in the New Zealand vs Australia game started to keep a bit low in the second innings, and reckons that New Zealand will be very happy to have the chance to put on a total first. Also details that both sides are coming off with some batting issues and it is all about getting in there and putting some serious pressure on the opposition.
South Africa Women (Unchanged Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, and Nonkululeko Mlaba.
New Zealand Women (Unchanged Playing XI) - Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (C), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (WK), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, and Bree Illing.
The skipper of South Africa Women, Laura Wolvaardt, says that she doesn’t mind losing the toss too much, as it might get tougher to defend later under the lights, so she is happy to be chasing on this surface. Speaking about the previous outing where her side was bundled out for just 69, she mentions that they have tried to quickly move past that disappointing game against England, and the short turnaround has actually helped them refocus. On the team combination, she confirms that there are no changes in the playing XI for this match.
The captain of New Zealand Women, Sophie Devine, says that it is a pretty good surface and hasn’t changed much since the previous game. Highlights that it slightly held in the second innings. Says the batters are excited to go out and put some runs up, and mentions that they have the benefit of knowing what a good total on this surface can be. Adds that they are aware of how destructive the South African bowling line-up can be. Shares that there was a bit of rain and is hopeful that her side can counterpunch. Stresses that it is all about staying focused and tuned in for 100 overs and concentrating on the process. Ends by informing that they are going with the same side.
TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favour of New Zealand Women, and their skipper, Sophie Devine, has elected to BAT first.
Mlaba was the standout with the ball, claiming 4/40 and triggering a crucial middle-order collapse, including wickets of captain Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday, as well as contributing to a run-out. Her spell ensured New Zealand couldn’t push past 231 after a promising start at 195/4.
In response, Brits dominated the chase with 101 off 89 balls, her seventh ODI century and first in a World Cup, while Sune Luus remained unbeaten on 81, forging a record 159-run third-wicket partnership—South Africa’s highest in Women’s World Cup history. Brits’ fifty came off just 44 balls, showcasing her aggressive intent, while Luus rotated strike and played crucial shots to keep the chase on track.
This win lifted South Africa from the bottom to fifth in the standings, improving their Net Run Rate significantly. New Zealand, now last, will face Bangladesh next, while South Africa take on India in Visakhapatnam on October 9.
Match Statistics
Venue
Holkar Stadium, Indore
