South Africa powered to a commanding 150-run victory (DLS method) over Pakistan in a rain-hit encounter in Colombo on Tuesday, reclaiming top spot on the ICC Women’s World Cup table and securing their place in the semi-finals. The emphatic win also ended Pakistan’s hopes of progressing, confirming their early exit from the tournament.
The match was heavily disrupted by rain, but the Proteas’ dominant batting display and disciplined bowling ensured they made the most of every opportunity on a stop-start day at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
South Africa, sent in to bat, were 15-1 when a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay halted play early in the innings. Once the skies cleared, the Proteas launched a counterattack. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a fluent 90 off 82 balls, finding the boundary with ease and rotating the strike intelligently. She shared a crucial 118-run partnership with Sune Luus (61), stabilising the innings and setting up a platform for acceleration.
After Wolvaardt and Luus fell in quick succession, Marizanne Kapp took charge. The experienced all-rounder struck an unbeaten 68 from 49 deliveries, mixing power and placement to keep the scoreboard ticking. She was well supported by Nadine de Klerk, who provided late fireworks with a stunning 41 off just 16 balls, including four sixes and three boundaries.
South Africa finished on an imposing 312-9 from their allotted 40 overs — a total that proved far beyond Pakistan’s reach once rain further complicated the chase.
When play resumed, Pakistan faced a daunting revised target of 234 from just 20 overs. Their hopes were quickly dashed as Ayabonga Khaka dismissed opener Muneeba Ali in the second over, before Kapp tore through the middle order with three wickets in the space of 10 deliveries.
At 35-4, Pakistan never recovered. Sidra Nawaz offered brief resistance with 22 not out, but wickets continued to tumble as the Proteas bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Kapp finished with 3-20, while Khaka and Masabata Klaas provided tight support.
Another rain interruption forced further revisions to the target, at one point requiring Pakistan to chase 186 from just eight overs to complete the 20-over quota — an impossible task. The Proteas managed the situation superbly, ensuring enough overs were bowled to constitute a match and claim the full points.
The result leaves South Africa one point clear of defending champions Australia and England, who will clash in Indore on Wednesday in a crucial showdown that could decide the semi-final lineup.
Pakistan, meanwhile, join Bangladesh in being eliminated with a game to spare. Their campaign has been marked by inconsistency and an inability to convert promising starts into results.
Speaking after the match, Wolvaardt praised her team’s resilience. “It was a challenging day with the weather, but I’m proud of how the team adapted. Every time we came back on the field, the energy was there. We wanted to control what we could — and we did that brilliantly.”
South Africa will now look to maintain momentum heading into the knockout stages, where their balanced combination of power hitters, experienced bowlers, and electric fielding will make them formidable contenders for the title.