In their previous outing, the South African women’s cricket team suffered a crushing defeat, bowled out for just 69 runs against England and losing by 10 wickets. However, the Proteas staged a remarkable comeback in their next match, defeating New Zealand by 6 wickets to claim their first victory of the tournament while handing the Kiwis their second consecutive loss.
The win was built on the brilliance of Nonkululeko Mlaba with the ball and the batting heroics of Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus. Mlaba dismantled the New Zealand batting order with figures of 4 for 40, while Brits scored a superb century, and Luus anchored the chase with an unbeaten 81.
Batting first in Indore, New Zealand were bowled out for 231 in 47.5 overs. Captain Sophie Devine led from the front with an impressive 85, while Brooke Halliday added a valuable 45 off 37 balls. Despite their efforts, the rest of the lineup struggled against Mlaba’s accurate spin and Ayabonga Khaka’s late strikes.
South Africa Women by 6 Wickets
Chasing 232, South Africa cruised to victory in just 40.5 overs, losing only four wickets. Tazmin Brits starred with a magnificent 101 off 96 balls, marking her fifth century of 2025 the most by any female cricketer in a single calendar year. Together with Sune Luus, she forged a crucial 144-run partnership, ensuring South Africa’s dominant finish.
Earlier, New Zealand’s decision to bat first backfired. Veteran opener Suzie Bates was dismissed off the first ball for the second match in a row, while Amelia Kerr (23) and Georgia Plimmer (31) struggled to build momentum. Devine and Halliday’s partnership revived the innings briefly, but Mlaba and Khaka’s disciplined bowling prevented a strong total.
The victory signaled a strong comeback for South Africa after their earlier humiliation. The Proteas will next face hosts and table-toppers India in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, while New Zealand will look to bounce back against Bangladesh in Guwahati on the same day.
| Match Summary | Details |
|---|---|
| Teams | New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women |
| Venue | Indore |
| Toss | New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat |
| New Zealand Innings | 231 all out in 47.5 overs |
| Top Scorers (NZ) | Sophie Devine 85, Brooke Halliday 45 |
| Top Bowlers (SA) | Nonkululeko Mlaba 4/40, Ayabonga Khaka 2 wickets |
| South Africa Innings | 232/4 in 40.5 overs |
| Top Scorers (SA) | Tazmin Britts 101, Sune Luus 81* |
| Top Bowlers (NZ) | Amelia Kerr 2/62 |
| Result | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Tazmin Britts |