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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 Bree Illing, A wide yorker, just inside the tramline. Bree Illing leaves thinking for a wide, but it is a fair delivery.
Ayabonga Khaka to Bree Illing, WIDE! Miles outside off, beyond the tramline. Bree swings and misses to cut it away. Given as a wide.
Ayabonga Khaka to Eden Carson, Fuller and outside off, Eden Carson carves it to deep backward point for a single.
- Bree Illing 0 (1)
- Eden Carson 1 (2)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Bree Illing, Pushed through quicker, full and on the leg stump. Bree Illing jams the bat down and squeezes it to the left of the bowler. An excellent stint from Nonkululeko Mlaba comes to an end. Her figures - 10-0-40-4.
Bree Illing is the last batter in.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, OUT! TAKEN! WHAT A SCREAMER OF A CATCH FROM THE PROTEAS SKIPPER! Unarguably one of the best catches of the tournament so far! Pitched fuller by Mlaba and outside off, Lea Tahuhu takes a huge stride forward and tries to smash it to the right of cover, but hits it flat off the toe end. The ball travels at the rate of knots, but Laura Wolvaardt, stationed at cover, flings herself to the right and plucks the ball one-handed while being airborne. Mlaba gets a well-deserved 4-fer. Lea Tahuhu departs for 5 (9). New Zealand Women further slip down to 226/9.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, Keeps the stumps in play, does Mlaba, on a length, around off. Lea Tahuhu stabs it off the back foot to the off side.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, Arm ball, drifting on the leg stump on a length. Lea Tahuhu watchfully bunts it back to the bowler.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, Floated fuller and outside off. Lea Tahuhu chips it inside out over cover. Nadine De Klerk from long off, scampers across to her left and cuts it off with the dive, saving two for her side.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, Shortish delivery, around off. Lea Tahuhu cuts it to cover-point.
- Eden Carson 1 (2)
- Lea Tahuhu 3 (4)
Ayabonga Khaka to Eden Carson, Low full toss, on off, drilled down to mid off by Carson.
Ayabonga Khaka to Lea Tahuhu, Full and around off, Lea hits it to cover where the fielder dives to her right and deflects the ball to mid off for a single.
Eden Carson is the new batter in.
Ayabonga Khaka to Eden Carson, Full toss, on middle, Eden Carson drills it down to long on for one.
Ayabonga Khaka to Jess Kerr, OUT! GONE! CAUGHT! Ayabonga Khaka also gets her name into the wicket column! Pushes it full and outside off with a cross-seam presentation. Jess Kerr crouches low and tries to slog it over long on, but just doesn't manage to get the requisite timing and distance on it. Airs it off the toe end and drags it straight towards Nadine De Klerk stationed at long on. Klerk takes a regulation catch in the deep. Jess Kerr departs for 2 (8), and New Zealand Women have massively slipped down from 187/3 to 222/8.
Ayabonga Khaka to Lea Tahuhu, Fuller delivery, outside off, Lea drives it to deep extra cover for a single.
Ayabonga Khaka to Lea Tahuhu, Yorker, on off. Lea Tahuhu digs it off the inside edge onto the pads.
Ayabonga Khaka (6-1-23-0) is back on. She replaces Marizanne Kapp.
- Jess Kerr 2 (7)
- Lea Tahuhu 1 (1)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jess Kerr, Goes fuller and around leg, Kerr gets across and tries to flick it but misses. The ball hits low and on the outside off her front pad before rolling down in front of backward square leg.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jess Kerr, Dragged length and around middle, Kerr presses back and defends it.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jess Kerr, Sliding in, touch shorter and around middle, pushed back to the bowler off the back foot.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Lea Tahuhu, Short and around off, knocked down to long on for a single by Lea.
Lea Tahuhu is in at number 9.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, OUT! KNOCKED HER OVER! Mlaba takes the biggest wicket of the innings as the Kiwi skipper, Sophie Devine, walks back after an impressive innings of 85 (98). Mlaba slides in a full ball, angling in from around-the-wicket angle, around middle and leg. Devine takes a step forward and tries to nudge it into the leg side with an angled bat to find a single. But as the ball drifts in, she misses her shot. The ball brushes her back pad and rattles the middle stump. Devine misses out on a well-deserved hundred, and the New Zealand Women are 220/7.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jess Kerr, A bit shorter and outside off, Devine goes back and punches it to cover.
- Sophie Devine 85 (97)
- Jess Kerr 1 (3)
Marizanne Kapp to Sophie Devine, FOUR! CRUNCHED! Short and outside off, Sophie Devine rocks back and drags it with a pull shot. Finds the gap between deep backward square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Marizanne Kapp to Jess Kerr, Short of a good length, at 98.7 kph, around off. Jess Kerr hangs back and punches it wide of extra cover for an easy single.
Marizanne Kapp to Jess Kerr, Nails in a pinpoint yorker, on middle. Kerr jams the bat down to dig it out.
Marizanne Kapp to Jess Kerr, At a gentle pace, outside off. Jess pushes it to cover.
Marizanne Kapp to Sophie Devine, Lands it full and around off, nudged away to the right of mid-wicket for a single.
Marizanne Kapp to Sophie Devine, WIDE! Full but sliding down the leg side, Devine gets across and looks to flick it but misses. A wide given.
Jess Kerr is in at 8.
Run out? Some slick work by Marizanne Kapp as despite standing in front of the stumps, she collects the throw and flicks the ball behind to the stumps at the non-striker's end. The on-field umpire, after giving it a thought, signals OUT. And the replay confirms the same as Gaze is found just short of her crease due to a little stutter mid-pitch.
Marizanne Kapp to Izzy Gaze, OUT! IZZY GAZE IS RUN OUT! An unfortunate way to get out, and New Zealand Women lose their sixth! Kapp lands it full but sliding down leg, Izzy Gaze comes forward and tries to flick it but misses. The ball grazes her front pad and rolls down to short fine. Sophie Devine pushes her partner for a quick single, but there is a bit of hesitation between the batters. Seeing Devine halfway down the deck, Gaze starts to run to the other end. But the fielder from short leg, Nonkululeko Mlaba, moves to her right, picks it up and fires a throw to the bowling end after carefully seeing where the batter is short. The bowler, Marizanne Kapp, shows calm as she gets in front of the stumps, collects the throw and deflects it back to the stumps backwards. Although Graze tries to slide her bat down, she falls short and the umpire instantly raises the finger, and the replay too, shows the same. New Zealand Women are 212/6, just losing their way towards the backend.
- Sophie Devine 80 (95)
- Izzy Gaze 10 (8)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, Slower through the air, full and around off, driven to mid off from the front foot.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, Lands it full and around middle, Devine comes forward to drive but gets an inside edge onto her front pad.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Izzy Gaze, Angling in, full and on middle, tucked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, Short and outside off, Devine lunges forward and pushes it to the left of the bowler. The fielder picks it up to her left and throws it to the keeper but Gaze makes it there by sliding her bat in time.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, FOUR! UNLEASHED! Full and outside off, Sophie Devine uses her feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and generates immense power. Drills it to the left of the bowler for a cracking boundary.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, Short and outside off, Devine opens her stance and punches it but straight to backward point.
- Izzy Gaze 9 (7)
- Sophie Devine 75 (90)
Marizanne Kapp to Izzy Gaze, FOUR! SWEETLY TIMED! On a length, angling away, outside off, Izzy Gaze presses back, waits for it, and opens her bat face off late. Glides it through the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary.
Marizanne Kapp to Izzy Gaze, Touch fuller and wide outside off, Gaze strides forward and pushes it to backward point.
Marizanne Kapp to Izzy Gaze, Dragged length and wide outside off, Gaze gets across and just manages to chop it down to backward point off the inside half of the bat. Denies the single which Devine wants.
Marizanne Kapp to Izzy Gaze, Pace off, full and wide outside off, keeping it away from the batter. Izzy throws her hands at it to reach out but misses to connect.
Marizanne Kapp to Sophie Devine, On a length, angling in from wide of the crease, around middle, Devine goes deep in her crease, uses her wrists and turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Marizanne Kapp to Sophie Devine, Nagging length and outside off, dabbed down to extra cover off the back foot.
Marizanne Kapp (6-1-22-1) returns into the attack. She replaces Nadine De Klerk.
- Izzy Gaze 5 (3)
- Sophie Devine 74 (88)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Izzy Gaze, Uff, beaten! Full and spins away, outside off, Izzy Gaze is lured into a drive but she gets beaten past the outside edge.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Izzy Gaze, EDGED AND FOUR! Flatter, full and outside off, Izzy Gaze throws her hands to play a drive on the up but gets an outside edge that races past the keeper to her right for a boundary. 200 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND WOMEN IN 40.5 OVERS!
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sophie Devine, Quicker, full and around off, Devine knocks it down to long on for a single.
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
