South Africa vs Pakistan Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: South Africa beat Pakistan by 150 runs (DLS)

Fatima Sana to Tazmin Brits, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! The Pakistani skipper is leading from the front, and she keeps providing early breakthroughs with the new ball. She bowls it on a length and outside off with a wobbled seam, getting it to move away a bit. Tazmin Brits remains deep in her crease and throws her hands at it. Goes with hard hands to push, but gets a thick outside edge that goes towards first slip, where Natalia Pervaiz remains a bit crouched and pouches it around knee height. This is her third duck in the LAST FOUR INNINGS in this World Cup. Tazmin Brits departs for a four-ball duck. South Africa Women are 5/1.

Fatima Sana to Tazmin Brits, Short of a length and around off, Tazmin Brits presses back and punches it a bit uppishly but in the gap to mid off.

Fatima Sana to Tazmin Brits, On a length and shaping in, around off, Brits gets on top of the bounce and defends it back to the bowler.

Fatima Sana to Tazmin Brits, Lands it short and outside off, Tazmin Brits rides the bounce and cuts it well but finds the backward point fielder.

Fatima Sana to Tazmin Brits, WIDE! Down the leg side, on a good length, Tazmin Brits tries to swipe but misses. Called a wide.

Fatima Sana to bowl from the other end. Alan Wilkins with a rather unsettling update on air after the first over. He calls the cloud formation around the stadium 'threatening'. Some dark clouds are indeed looming overhead now. But there’s a silver lining, literally, as the Pakistani seamers might just welcome this with open arms. The overcast conditions could help them get that little bit of sideways movement with the new ball to get early breakthroughs. 

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, Sadia pushes through, full and around off, defended back to the bowler off the front foot.

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, Slower through the air, full and around off, Laura gets half-forward and blocks it into the deck.

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, Nagging length, spinning away, around middle, Laura Wolvaardt goes back and gets squared up before she defends it.

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up, full and around off, defended to the left of the bowler off the front foot.

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, Skidding through, full and around off, Laura prods forward and defends it.

Sadia Iqbal to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! QUITE A START! A bit shorter and outside of, Laura Wolvaardt throws her hands at it and gets it sliced in the gap between backward point and cover-point for a boundary.

Done with all the pre-match rituals and it is now time for Match 22 of this World Cup to get underway at Khettarama. Overcast skies greet the umpires and players. There was a bit of sunshine earlier, but clouds have taken complete possession of the sky now. Fatima Sana pumps up words of motivation as the Pakistani players form a team huddle before scattering out to the field. The dangerous opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits walk out to open for South Africa Women. And it will be Sadia Iqbal to open the attack for Pakistan with her left-arm spin. Wolvaardt to face. A slip in place. Here we go...

Just a few minutes away from the first ball, but before that, the flags of both nations unfurl in the middle. The two sets of players walk out, followed by the match officials, as it is time for the national anthems. It will be Pakistan's first, followed by the national anthem of South Africa. 

Reflecting on what skipper Wolvaardt said at the toss, this is going to be a genuine test for South Africa’s batters against a disciplined Pakistani spin attack. But let’s not forget, it’s been the pace duo of Fatima Sana and Diana Baig doing the heavy lifting so far, with 9 and 7 wickets apiece in this World Cup. The Proteas, though, haven’t exactly enjoyed batting first. The only time they did, against England, they crashed for just 69 runs. That scar will linger, but this is their chance to rewrite that narrative with a collective effort and test their strengths before the knockouts arrive. In the recently concluded ODI series between both nations, before the start of this World Cup, Pakistan did manage to bundle the Proteas on 115 while bowling first, so they will take the inspiration from that bowling effort. 

PITCH REPORT: Alan Wilkins is down at pitchside with a bright smile, noting that the sun is peeking through the clouds, though it remains a bit humid and overcast. He hopes the rain stays away as there is a gentle breeze blowing across the stadium. Former India captain Mithali Raj feels it’s a good toss to win for Pakistan, observing that the surface looks hard and dry. She mentions the first 10 overs will be crucial, but overall, it’s a fine batting track. When Wilkins asks if both pace and spin could come into play, Mithali agrees, adding that bowlers should focus on attacking the stumps while batters will need to show patience and caution early on. Reckons that anything around or beyond 270 would be a good total on this track.

The South African skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, says it’s not the worst thing to be batting first. Mentions that throughout the competition, her side has done really well while chasing targets, but with the semifinals approaching, it’s a good opportunity to test themselves batting first. Admits that the one time they batted first earlier in the tournament, things didn’t quite go as planned, so this game offers a chance to set things right. Informs just one change in the lineup - Ayabonga Khaka comes in for Masabata Klaas. She looks confident as she says that her team is ready to adapt and build momentum heading into the knockout stage.

The captain of Pakistan Women, Fatima Sana, details that it looks like a good wicket and the weather is favorable to bowl first. Adds that she and Diana Baig are the main pacers, and they have four spinners. Stresses on playing a good brand of cricket and trying to be calmer in pressure situations. Informs that they are going with the same side.

Pakistan Women (Playing XI) - Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (C), Sidra Nawaz (WK), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu, and Sadia Iqbal.

South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (WK), Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka (In for Masabata Klaas), and Nonkululeko Mlaba.

TOSS - Both umpires have walked out to the middle. The conditions look overcast, with the sun hiding behind the clouds. Let's hope for the best. Okay, here it is - Laura Wolvaardt flips the coin and Fatima Sana calls 'Heads'. It lands 'Heads', and Pakistan win the toss. They have elected to BOWL first.