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South Africa on verge of semifinal qualification after clinical demolition of Sri Lanka

Aakash Saini

South African players celebrating a wicket [Source: @ProteasWomenCSA/x]South African players celebrating a wicket [Source: @ProteasWomenCSA/x]

South Africa Women bulldozed World Cup co-hosts Sri Lanka to register their fourth successive win this tournament. Chasing 121 in a rain-marred game, South African openers came to the fore after Nonkululeko Mlaba’s spin masterclass.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the 18th match of the 2025 Women’s World Cup between Sri Lanka Women and South Africa Women, as it panned out at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, October 17.

Nonkululeko Mlaba limits Sri Lanka Women to 105 in 20-over innings

Amid rain interruptions and a revised 20-over innings, Sri Lanka Women reached a below par 105-7. Opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored in the innings with a mere 34-run knock from 33 balls with six boundaries. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu washed up 25 deliveries to score just 11, while Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva barely managed to touch the double digits in the middle order.

For South Africa Women, ace spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba picked up three wickets to claim tight figures of 3-30. New ball pacer Masabata Klaas also struck twice in her five-over spell, which included the big wicket of home captain Athapaththu.

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits outclass Sri Lanka by 10 wickets

South Africa Women openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits both bludgeoned swift half-centuries to bulldoze Sri Lanka by 10-wickets in a revised chase of 121 runs from 20 overs. By the time the two blistering openers were finished, the Proteas Women still had over five overs left in the bank as they boosted up their NRR while registering their fourth successive win this 2025 Women’s World Cup.

Wolvaardt top-scored with a cracking 60* from 47 balls with eight boundaries while Brits made 55* from 42 with four fours and two huge sixes, including one to seal the deal in the 15th over.