Tazmin Brits’ Magnificent Century Powers South Africa to Dominant Victory Over New Zealand
South Africa Women cruised to a commanding six-wicket victory over New Zealand Women in the 7th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Monday. Chasing a modest target of 232, the Proteas romped home with 55 balls to spare, thanks to a match-winning century from opener Tazmin Brits who smashed 101 off just 89 balls.
The NZ Women vs SA Women, 7th Match at Indore result puts South Africa firmly in contention in the tournament standings, while New Zealand will be left questioning their inability to post a more competitive total despite Sophie Devine’s valiant 85.
Match Details
Date: October 6, 2025
Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
Tournament: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025/26
Toss: New Zealand Women won and elected to bat first
Result: South Africa Women won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Tazmin Brits
New Zealand’s Batting Struggles
New Zealand’s innings got off to the worst possible start when star opener Suzie Bates was trapped LBW by Marizanne Kapp off just the second ball of the match. The review couldn’t save her either, and the White Ferns were 0/1 before anyone had settled in.
Georgia Plimmer (31 off 68) and Amelia Kerr (23 off 42) tried to rebuild, but both fell trying to accelerate. The middle overs belonged to captain Sophie Devine, who played a lone hand with a gritty 85 off 98 deliveries, striking 11 fours and seven boundaries in total.
Brooke Halliday provided excellent support with a quickfire 45 off 37 balls, striking at over 121. The pair added 86 runs for the fourth wicket, giving New Zealand hope of reaching 260-270. However, once Halliday fell in the 39th over, the innings collapsed dramatically.
Nonkululeko Mlaba was the destroyer-in-chief for South Africa, claiming 4/40 in her ten overs. The left-arm spinner ripped through New Zealand’s lower order, dismissing Halliday, Green, Devine, and Tahuhu in quick succession. Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, and Nadine de Klerk chipped in with a wicket each.
New Zealand limped to 231 all out in 47.5 overs—a total that looked at least 30-40 runs short on a good batting surface.
South Africa’s Clinical Chase
The Proteas lost captain Laura Wolvaardt early, LBW to Jess Kerr for just 14, but what followed was a masterclass in ODI batting. Tazmin Brits took charge from ball one, playing with freedom and finding boundaries at will.
Brits brought up her fifty off just 44 balls with ten boundaries already on the board. She didn’t let up, finding the fence regularly through the covers and mid-wicket region. Her partnership with Sune Luus was the backbone of the chase—the duo added a mammoth 159 runs for the second wicket.
Luus played the perfect foil, rotating strike brilliantly and hitting boundaries when needed. She remained unbeaten on 83 off 114 balls, an innings full of composure and class. Brits reached her century off 87 deliveries, smashing 15 fours and a six before falling for 101 in the 32nd over.
Even after Brits’ dismissal, there was no drama. Luus ensured no further hiccups, guiding South Africa home comfortably with more than nine overs to spare. The NZ Women vs SA Women scorecard reflected a one-sided contest in the end.
Scorecard Summary
New Zealand Women Innings – 231 all out (47.5 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Devine (c) | 85 | 98 | 11 | 7 | 86.73 |
| Brooke Halliday | 45 | 37 | 4 | 4 | 121.62 |
| Georgia Plimmer | 31 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 45.58 |
| Amelia Kerr | 23 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 54.76 |
| Extras | 21 |
Best Bowler: Nonkululeko Mlaba 4/40 (10)
South Africa Women Innings – 234/4 (40.5 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tazmin Brits | 101 | 89 | 15 | 1 | 113.48 |
| Sune Luus* | 83 | 114 | 10 | 1 | 72.80 |
| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 14 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 93.33 |
| Extras | 16 |
Best Bowler: Amelia Kerr 2/62 (10)
Last 10 Overs Runboard
New Zealand Innings (Overs 38-47.5)
| Over | Runs | Wickets | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38-40 | 18 | 2 | Halliday out 38.1, Green out 40.1 |
| 41-43 | 17 | 1 | Gaze run out 43.1 |
| 44-46 | 14 | 3 | Devine out 44.2, J Kerr out 45.3, Tahuhu out 46.5 |
| 47-47.5 | 5 | 1 | Carson run out, innings ends |
South Africa Innings (Overs 31-40.5)
| Over | Runs | Wickets | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | 22 | 1 | Brits out 31.1 for 101 |
| 34-36 | 28 | 2 | Kapp out 34.6, Bosch out 36.3 |
| 37-40 | 27 | 0 | Luus and Jafta cruise |
| 40.1-40.5 | 7 | 0 | Target reached |
Top Performers
Batting:
- Tazmin Brits (SA) – 101 (89), 15×4, 1×6
- Sune Luus (SA) – 83* (114), 10×4, 1×6
- Sophie Devine (NZ) – 85 (98), 11×4, 7×6
- Brooke Halliday (NZ) – 45 (37), 4×4, 4×6
Bowling:
- Nonkululeko Mlaba (SA) – 4/40 (10 overs)
- Amelia Kerr (NZ) – 2/62 (10 overs)
- Marizanne Kapp (SA) – 1/13 (8 overs)
Match Summary Table
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Women | 231 | 10 | 47.5 | 4.82 |
| South Africa Women | 234 | 4 | 40.5 | 5.73 |
Result: South Africa Women won by 6 wickets (with 55 balls remaining)
Player Reactions
While official quotes weren’t immediately available post-match, Tazmin Brits’ century will surely be celebrated as one of the finest knocks of the tournament so far. Her aggressive approach from the start put New Zealand on the back foot and never allowed them back into the contest.
Sophie Devine’s fighting innings kept New Zealand in the game during their batting effort, but the total proved insufficient against a fired-up South African batting lineup.
What’s Next?
This comprehensive victory gives South Africa two crucial points and boosts their net run rate significantly. The Proteas will look to carry this momentum into their next fixture as they aim for a spot in the knockout stages.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly. Their bowling attack struggled to contain the South African batters, and questions will be asked about their death bowling and inability to build partnerships around Devine.
The NZ Women vs SA Women, 7th Match at Indore, Women’s World Cup, Oct 06 2025 match result showcased South Africa’s batting depth and New Zealand’s vulnerability when their top order fails to fire.
Conclusion
South Africa’s six-wicket demolition of New Zealand was a statement victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup. Tazmin Brits’ sensational century and Sune Luus’ steady hand guided the Proteas home with ease. New Zealand will need much more from their batting unit if they’re to bounce back in this tournament.