SA vs PAK, Women's World Cup 2025: Pakistan Knocked Out after Massive 150-run Defeat to South Africa

Laura Wolvaardt’s 90 powered South Africa to 312-9 in a rain-reduced 40-over Women's World Cup match. Pakistan, disrupted by rain and revised targets, managed just 83-7, losing by 150 runs and exiting the tournament before the semi-finals.

Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with an attacking 90 as South Africa hammered Pakistan by 150 runs in a rain-marred Women’s World Cup match on Tuesday. Opening batter Wolvaardt hit 90 to guide South Africa to a mammoth 312-9 in their reduced 40 overs in Colombo.

The Sri Lankan capital has endured heavy rain over the past two weeks, leading to four abandoned matches. Pakistan finished on 83-7 while chasing a revised target of 234 in 20 overs after several rain interruptions plagued the match. The defeat means they have bowed out of the semi-final race without a win in six matches.

Pakistan Out of Semifinal Race

Pakistan’s exit means the semi-finals and the final on November 2 will be played in India. Sri Lanka were chosen as co-hosts with India to accommodate Pakistan matches at a neutral venue as part of a compromise deal. India and Pakistan only meet in international tournaments and on neutral territory.

South Africa, who had already booked their place in the semi-finals of the women’s 50-over marquee tournament alongside Australia and England, won their fifth successive match. Invited to bat first, South Africa were 6-1 in two overs when rain interrupted play. It was more than two hours later before their innings restarted.

South Africa post Challenging Total Despite Rain-Forced 40 Overs

Wolvaardt and Sune Luus (61) found their groove and hit regular boundaries against a Pakistan bowling attack that was wayward in line and length, struggling with a wet ball due to moisture and intermittent drizzle. The pair put on 118 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundations for the mammoth total — South Africa’s highest in a World Cup.

Luus reverse-swept Sadia Iqbal for a boundary to reach her fifty and hit two more fours in the next over before falling to Nashra Sandhu. She hit eight fours and two sixes. Wolvaardt looked fluent and raised her third half-century of the tournament with a boundary off Iqbal’s left-arm spin as she kept up the charge. Sandhu, a left-arm orthodox, denied Wolvaardt her 100 when she had the batter stumped in a two-wicket over.

There was no stopping South Africa as Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk tore into the Pakistan attack with boundaries galore. Kapp hit an unbeaten 68 and De Klerk struck 41 off 16 balls to take the total past 300 in a 25-run 39th over.

Pakistan Collapsed Early in the Run Chase

Pakistan were never in the chase and slipped to 35-4 in their first revised target of 306 in 40 overs when rain interrupted play. The ground staff worked tirelessly as intermittent showers forced Pakistan’s target to be revised four times before the teams finally retook the field at around 22:45 local time (17:15 GMT).

But Pakistan’s batters were unable to ever challenge the South African total, failing to pass the 100-run mark in the 20-over chase.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)