South Africa Women continued their winning streak with a commanding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in Match 18 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, October 17. After rain reduced the match to 20 overs per side, South Africa chased down a DLS-revised target of 121 runs with more than five overs to spare. Opening batters Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits remained unbeaten, scoring 60 and 55 respectively, as the Proteas completed their chase in just 14.5 overs at a run rate of 8.42. Earlier, spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba took three wickets for 30 runs to restrict Sri Lanka to 105 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Official Scorecard, ICC Women’s World Cup Match Center
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Women | 105/7 | 20/20 | 7 | Lost by 10 wickets |
| South Africa Women | 125/0 | 14.5/20 | 0 | Won (DLS method) |
DLS Target: 121 runs in 20 overs
Run Rate: South Africa 8.42, Sri Lanka 5.25
Balls Remaining: 31
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Toss: Sri Lanka Women, elected to bat first
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Full Scorecard (Match #1506)
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | Batter/Captain | 60* (47 balls, 8 fours) |
| Tazmin Brits | South Africa | Batter | 55* (42 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | South Africa | Bowler | 3/30 (4 overs, economy 7.50) |
| Vishmi Gunaratne | Sri Lanka | Batter | 34 (33 balls, 6 fours) |
| Masabata Klaas | South Africa | Bowler | 2/18 (5 overs, economy 3.60) |
Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa Women)
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Official Scorecard, ICC Match Report
Key Moments
- Early Damage: Fast bowler Masabata Klaas removed both Hasini Perera (bowled for 4) and captain Chamari Athapaththu (LBW for 11) to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 37 for 2 after 10 overs.
- Gunaratne’s Injury: Opener Vishmi Gunaratne retired hurt on 12 runs after injuring her knee in the 9th over. She courageously returned later when Sri Lanka were 63 for 4.
- Rain Interruption: Heavy rain stopped play after 12 overs with Sri Lanka at 46 for 2. After nearly five hours of delay and wet ground conditions, the match was reduced to 20 overs per side.
- Late Collapse: Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the final seven balls. Mlaba struck twice in the 19th over, while Anushka Sanjeewani was run out. Gunaratne was caught behind on the final ball after top-scoring with 34.
- Dominant Chase: Wolvaardt and Brits powered through the target without losing a wicket. They reached 50 in just 7.1 overs and brought up their 100-run partnership in 13.1 overs. Brits sealed the win with a six in the 15th over.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Ball-by-Ball Commentary, Match Flow Data
Match Analysis
South Africa’s bowling attack delivered a professional performance on a challenging Colombo surface that had been under covers for hours. Klaas set the tone with an economical spell of 2 for 18, while Mlaba’s spin variations proved too difficult for the Sri Lankan middle and lower order. Nadine de Klerk chipped in with one wicket, dismissing the dangerous Kavisha Dilhari for 14.
Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum throughout their innings. Only Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshika Silva showed aggression, scoring at strike rates above 100. The rest of the batting lineup found it hard to rotate strike, with the team scoring at just 5.25 runs per over.
The chase was a masterclass from the South African openers. Wolvaardt played the anchor role with eight boundaries in her unbeaten 60, while Brits provided the fireworks with two sixes. Their unbeaten 125-run opening partnership was South Africa’s highest of the tournament so far. The wet ball and slippery conditions made life difficult for Sri Lankan bowlers, who conceded 18 extras and couldn’t create a single chance.
This comprehensive victory moved South Africa to 8 points from five matches, strengthening their position in the race for the semi-finals.
What’s Next
South Africa will remain in Colombo for their next match against Pakistan, aiming to continue their impressive form. With their openers finally firing together and the bowling unit in excellent rhythm, the Proteas are building momentum at the perfect time in the tournament.
For Sri Lanka, the wait for their first win continues. The co-hosts remain winless in completed matches and desperately need victories in their remaining games to keep their semi-final hopes alive. They will need their top order to step up and deliver bigger scores to stay competitive in this World Cup.