Women’s ODI World Cup | Mlaba, Brits and Luus star as South Africa outplays New Zealand

admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:27:00 +0000

South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba bowled out by England’s Charlotte Dean during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between England and South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

South Africa showed that the shellacking at the hands of England was an exception, not the norm, with a dominant six-wicket win against New Zealand in a Women’s World Cup league fixture at the Holkar Stadium here on Monday.

Tazmin Brits (101, 89b, 15×4, 1×6) and Sune Luus (83 n.o., 114b, 10×4, 1×6) carried on unfettered after losing skipper Laura Wolvaardt early in the 232-run chase. After her trademark early shakiness, the only hint of nerves Brits showed was as she neared the ton, pulling out a new ‘archer’ celebration when the job was done.

While Lea Tahuhu managed to hit Brits’ woodwork in the 32nd over and temper the surge to the finish line, Luus calmly helped the side get off the mark in the standings with almost 10 overs to spare. Most importantly, though, the win has done a world of good to South Africa’s Net Run Rate, which has gone from -3.733 to -1.402.

Brits became only the third South African to score an ODI World Cup century after Linda Olivier and Marizanne Kapp. She is also the fastest to seven hundreds in the format (41 innings), bettering Australian legend Meg Lanning’s tally (44).

Earlier, opting to bat, the Kiwis got off to a horrifying start with Kapp removing Suzie Bates – who became the first woman to 350 international caps – off the first ball of the innings.

The low and slow surface helped the Proteas keep the squeeze on, conceding just 38 runs in the PowerPlay, where 49 dots were bowled – the most in an innings in the tournament so far.

After Amelia Kerr succumbed to pressure, the onus of anchoring this White Ferns innings fell on the hardened shoulders of Sophie Devine again.

Meanwhile, Chloe Tryon claimed her 100th international scalp, removing a struggling Georgia Plimmer, which meant an incoming Brooke Halliday was tasked with nursing her side’s sinking scoring rate.

However, once Nonkululeko Mlaba removed Halliday the lower middle-order folded like a pack of cards. Seven wickets fell for just 44 runs, which eventually contributed to the White Ferns suffering a second defeat on the trot.

The scores: New Zealand 231 in 47.5 overs (Sophie Devine 85, Brooke Halliday 45, Nonkululeko Mlaba 4/40) lost to South Africa 234/4 in 40.5 overs (Tazmin Brits 101, Sune Luus 83 n.o.). Toss: New Zealand; PoM: Brits.

Published – October 06, 2025 06:57 pm IST

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Women’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand win maiden title as South Africa falter in successive final

admin — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 17:34:30 +0000

New Zealand’s Eden Carson, Georgia Plimmer and Molly Penfold celebrate their victory at the end of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup cricket final match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on October 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

New Zealand produced a clinical performance in a high-stakes final to beat South Africa by 32 runs and win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday (October 20, 2024).

It turned out to be a historic Sunday for New Zealand cricket as the White Ferns got their hands on the ICC trophy hours after the men recorded their first Test win in India after 36 years.

South Africa, playing their second successive final, sent New Zealand in to bat and the Sophie Devine-led side thrived under pressure to post an above par 158 for five at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Amelia Kerr collected 43 off 38 balls while Brooke Halliday made an impactful 38 off 28 balls to push New Zealand beyond 150 in what has been a low scoring tournament. South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 off 27) took her team to 47 for no loss in the powerplay before New Zealand bowlers were able to stifle the opposition.

South Africa could not keep with the scoring rate and ended with 126 for nine in 20 overs. Kerr starred with her leg-spin as well, ending with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.

It was a remarkable change of fortunes for New Zealand, who had come into the tournament with the baggage of 10 losses in a row. They were the best bowling unit in the competition by a fair distance and on Sunday (October 20, 2024), improved their batting by a few notches. There was no coming back from South Africa after they lost their gutsy leader Wolvaardt in the 10th over. Kerr got the prized wicket as Wolvaardt, in her attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, found Suzie Bates at cover.

When the hero of the semifinal, Anneke Bosch, perished five balls later, the writing was on the wall. South Africa’s untested middle-order could not respond to the pressure put by the New Zealand bowlers.

Brief scores: New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31). South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Amelia Kerra 3/24).

Published – October 20, 2024 11:04 pm IST

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Women’s ODI World Cup | Mlaba, Brits and Luus star as South Africa outplays New Zealand

Women’s T20 World Cup: New Zealand win maiden title as South Africa falter in successive final