Table of Contents
- South Africa’s Commanding Performance
- Laura Wolvaardt Anchors With 90
- Marizanne Kapp’s All-Round Masterclass
- Pakistan’s Batting Meltdown
- What This Means for World Cup Standings
- Sources
South Africa Crush Pakistan by 150 Runs in Women’s World Cup
Rain threatened to intervene—but couldn’t save Pakistan from a brutal reality check. In a one-sided ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash, South Africa delivered a statement victory, defeating Pakistan by a massive 150 runs despite a weather-shortened contest.
Held at a packed Basin Reserve in Wellington, the match saw South Africa post a formidable 312 for 6 in their 50 overs before rain reduced Pakistan’s chase to a revised DLS target of 234 in 35 overs. But even that adjusted ask proved too much as Pakistan collapsed to 83 for 7, handing South Africa their third straight win and vaulting them to the top of the tournament table.
Laura Wolvaardt Anchors With 90
Opener Laura Wolvaardt once again proved why she’s among the most consistent batters in women’s cricket. Her composed 90 off 107 balls—laced with 10 boundaries—laid the foundation for South Africa’s imposing total.
Wolvaardt shared crucial stands with captain Sune Luus (48 off 44) and all-rounder Marizanne Kapp (37 off 28), ensuring the innings accelerated in the final 15 overs. The Proteas added 98 runs in the last 10 overs alone, turning a solid score into a daunting one.
Marizanne Kapp’s All-Round Masterclass
While her bat contributed, it was Kapp’s bowling that truly dismantled Pakistan. Opening the attack with pace and precision, she returned figures of 4 for 18 in 7 overs—ripping through Pakistan’s top and middle order with swing and seam movement under overcast skies.
Her early breakthrough—trapping Sidra Ameen lbw in the third over—set the tone. She later clean-bowled captain Nida Dar and had Omaima Sohail caught behind, leaving Pakistan reeling at 42 for 5 before the rain even arrived.
Pakistan’s Batting Meltdown
Pakistan’s response was nothing short of disastrous. Despite the revised target offering some hope, their batters looked out of depth against South Africa’s disciplined seamers and sharp fielding.
Only Fatima Sana (22) offered brief resistance. The rest folded meekly, with extras (12) being the second-highest “scorer” in the innings. The team’s powerplay score of 18 for 3 exposed their fragility against quality pace—a recurring issue in this tournament.
Coach Mohammad Wasim admitted post-match: “We’re struggling with intent and execution under pressure. We need to regroup fast.”
What This Means for World Cup Standings
With this win, South Africa leapfrog Australia and England to sit atop the points table with 6 points from 3 matches. Their net run rate (+2.14) is now the best in the competition, signaling serious title ambitions.
Conversely, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semifinals hang by a thread. With just one point from four games and a net run rate of –1.87, they must win all remaining matches—and by large margins—to stay alive.
For South Africa, the message is clear: they’re not just competing—they’re dominating.
Sources
Times of India: Rain fails to save Pakistan; South Africa seal 150-run victory