South Africa Women (SA-W) will lock horns with Pakistan Women (PAK-W) in Match No. 22 of the Women’s World Cup 2025 on Tuesday, October 21, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.South Africa and Pakistan, after contrasting journeys in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, face off in Colombo in the 22nd match of the tournament.
South Africa have looked assured and composed for most of the campaign, sitting comfortably in third place with four wins from five games and having already sealed a semifinal berth. Pakistan, meanwhile, have been left frustrated by the rain gods and their own inconsistency, finding themselves at the bottom of the table with no wins in five outings and just two points from a couple of washouts – now staring at the prospect of an early exit.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Previous Performances
South Africa have already sealed their spot in the semi-finals and currently sit third on the points table with four wins from five matches. With momentum on their side, they will look to climb higher in the standings by securing another victory.For South Africa, the tournament has underlined both their experience and adaptability.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits have provided steady starts at the top, while Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon have played vital roles in stabilising and accelerating through the middle overs. Nadine de Klerk’s composed finishing touches have also proved decisive in tight contests. In helpful conditions, Nonkululeko Mlaba has led the bowling unit admirably, supported by the all-round depth of Tryon and de Klerk. If there’s a minor concern, it’s the occasional collapse under pressure – a flaw they’ll want to iron out before the knockouts.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are placed at the bottom of the table with three losses and two no-results from their five outings. Though their chances of progressing to the next round are slim, they will aim to win this game to get back to a positive note.
Pakistan’s campaign, in contrast, has been one of unfulfilled promises. Their bowlers – led by Fatima Sana, Nashra Sandhu, and Sadia Iqbal – have repeatedly put the team in commanding positions, troubling both Australia and England with incisive spells. Yet rain and fragile batting have undone their efforts.
They allowed Australia to recover after reducing them to 115/8, had England on the ropes before the match was washed out, and were denied another result against New Zealand. With elimination looming, Pakistan will once again bank on their disciplined bowling to give them a foothold, but their batting must deliver if they are to keep themselves afloat.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Head to Head
South Africa lead 23 to 6 against Pakistan, with one tie and one no result. Pakistan, however, would like to take confidence from their recent 2-1 ODI series win against South Africa in Lahore, preceding this World Cup.
| Matches Played | 31 |
| SA W Won | 23 |
| PAK W Won | 06 |
| No Result | 01 |
| Tied | 01 |
| First-Ever Fixture | December 16, 1997 (SA W Won) |
| Most-Recent Fixture | September 22, 2025 (PAK W Won) |
SA -W vs PAK -W : Pitch and Weather Report
The surface at R Premadasa Stadium traditionally favours batters in the daytime though spinners find grip and turn as the game progresses. A total near 250 is considered competitive given the humid conditions expected in Colombo. Bowlers who hit consistent lengths in the middle overs often extract value from the surface. With possible dew later in the evening chasing might remain the preferred strategy at this venue. Both teams will rely heavily on their spinners while adapting to slower conditions and maintaining tight control over the run flow
Batting first has generally proven to be the more rewarding option at the R. Premadasa Stadium. However, with rain in the forecast, teams might look to chase, especially if the DLS method comes into play. If weather interruptions stay away, spinners are expected to play a key role, as the surface tends to offer good grip and turn as the game progresses.
I think we can call it now – the northeast monsoon appears to have properly arrived in Colombo, which makes a match uninterrupted by rain even less likely. There will likely be juice in the pitch for the seamers, but it is a rare match at the Khettarama where the ball does not take significant turn as well.
As many as four matches have yielded no result due to rain in Colombo, including three of the last four games, with South Africa’s win against Sri Lanka also coming in a rain-affected, curtailed encounter. And wet weather is forecast for the South Africa – Pakistan match too.The forecast, unfortunately, is far from promising, with showers predicted throughout. Another abandoned match may not significantly affect South Africa’s campaign, but for Pakistan, it will be a crushing blow.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Big Picture : Can Pakistan find some batting firepower vs upbeat South Africa
South Africa have already booked a semi-final spot. Despite not having won a match so far in the tournament, Pakistan still have a slim chance of sneaking into the knockouts, provided they win their last two matches by huge margins and other results also go their way. With no teams ruled out of contention just yet (at least until Monday’s Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match finishes), there is plenty on the line in every game. This tournament has now arrived at its pointy end.
Pakistan’s bowlers will perhaps still be buoyed by their most recent performance. Fatima Sana and Co. struck early and then repeatedly against England, restricting one of the better batting units in the tournament to a low score that Pakistan looked likely to chase down, before a second spell of rains washed the rest of that match out.
As had been the case in that game, the rains that have held sway in Colombo will likely envenom seamers, who may get the ball to move appreciably off a slightly moist deck. Often, teams prefer to bat first at the Khettarama – a venue that is notoriously tricky for chasing sides, especially under lights. But at this time of year, bowling first is an advantage too.
In fact, Pakistan’s batters were on the receiving end of some good seam bowling in Saturday’s match against New Zealand, when they had been 92 for 5 in an already rain-reduced innings, before more rains ended that match. South Africa have experienced seamers like Masabata Klaas and Marizanne Kapp in their XI. Although they haven’t quite lit this World Cup up so far, both bowlers are very capable of bowling themselves into better rhythm on a helpful deck.
The tougher the surface is to bat on, however, the more Pakistan will feel they can compete. As batting is by a distance the weaker of their two main discipline, a low-scoring match would suit them best. In fact, it had been a low-scoring game in which Pakistan last took South Africa down, roughly a month ago in Lahore.
South Africa’s batting, which, as Sri Lanka found out on Friday, is led off by one of the best opening combinations going, is looking in increasingly good shape. They appear to have left the embarrassment of being blown away for 69 in their tournament opener well and truly behind them.
SA -W vs PAK -W : In the Spotlight : Nonkululeko Mlaba
Although in T20Is Nonkululeko Mlaba has been a force for some time, this World Cup may be remembered as the tournament in which she stepped up her ODI bowling. She is by a huge distance South Africa’s most penetrative bowler of the tournament, having claimed 11 wickets at an average of 15.18, with an economy rate of 4.63. Pakistan’s batters will know that even if they survive the seamers, they have one of the world’s smartest spinners to counter later in the innings.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Vital Stats that matter
- Sana has played more ODIs (ten) against South Africa than any other team. But she has a poor record against this opposition, having claimed only six wickets at an average of 62.83.
- Before this tournament, Mlaba had bowled in 12 matches in Asia, and claimed 18 wickets at an average of 31.44. Her bowling average in Asia is now 25.27, and her strike rate is down to 29.3. This is more than twice as good as her numbers at home (average 51.18, SR 71.4).
- Since 2020, these teams have played each other ten times. Pakistan have won two of those games, both at home. South Africa have won the other eight.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Team News for South Africa and Pakistan
South Africa :
Sune Luus and Nondumiso Shangase, off-spinning allrounders, were included for the game against Sri Lanka considering a left-heavy Sri Lankan top order. However, with Pakistan predominantly having right-handers, Anneke Bosch and Tumi Sekhukhune might return.South Africa will likely keep their XI as it is.
South Africa Probable XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba
Pakistan :
Pakistan will search for ways to add muscle to their fragile batting order. Could Eyman Fatima or Sadaf Shamas make it back into the XI as they search for better combinations.Sana’s side were unchanged in the previous game and might persist with the same eleven.
Pakistan Probable XI: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Sidra Nawaz (wk), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
SA -W vs PAK -W : Probable Top Performers
Probable Best Batter: Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa’s top-order batter, Laura Wolvaardt, could be the key player in this clash. She has scored 180 runs in five matches at an average of 45 and has the ability to dominate from the top of the order, giving her team a strong platform to control the game.
Probable Best Bowler : Fatima Sana
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been putting together an excellent World Cup, with nine wickets at an average of 16 so far. Almost 15% of her overs have also been maidens (she has bowled more maidens than any other bowler in this tournament).
Against England, her last outing with the ball, Sana bowled some vicious inseaming deliveries, presenting a beautiful wobble-seam, and extracting substantial movement to send balls shooting between right-hand batters’ bats and pads. Both South Africa’s opening batters are right-hand batters. Expect Sana to repeat that same mode of attack against them.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana could be the key bowler in this clash. She has taken nine wickets in the tournament so far, consistently using her medium-pace to influence the game. Her ability to bowl tight spells makes her a potential match-winner who can steer her team toward victory.
SA -W vs PAK -W : Match Predictions
Pakistan have been poor with the bat throughout the ongoing tournament. South Africa have been excellent in both departments. Hence, we will go with the current form and back South Africa to win this game on Tuesday.
Case 1:
- South Africa Women wins the toss and bowls first
- Pakistan Women’s powerplay score: 30-40
- Pakistan Women’s total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- Pakistan Women wins the toss and bowls first
- South Africa Women’s powerplay score: 60-70
- South Africa Women’s total score: 310-320
Match result: South Africa to win the game.
Also Read: Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: A Plot Twist No One Saw Coming