We’re into the final bilateral series before the much-anticipated and potentially era-defining 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 30th September 2025 to 2nd November 2025, gets underway. The white-ball series will witness a clash between the Laura Wolvaardt-led Proteas, travelling to Pakistan for a three-match One-Day series from 16th to 22nd September 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore.
Muneeba Ali’s 76, Sidra Amin’s 121* guides Pakistan to a competitive total
The home side skipper, Fatima Sana, won the toss and decided to put the runs on the board in the first game of the series. An early departure of the young opening batter, Shawaal Zulfiqar, for a three-ball duck in the 2nd over of the innings might have given the young Pakistan skipper, Fatima Sana, early jitters regarding her decision at the coin toss.
Ayabonga Khaka provided the first breakthrough for South Africa. The experienced duo of Sidra Amin and the wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali settled the nerves with a massive record-shattering 147-run partnership, their highest-ever for the 2nd wicket in the ODI format.
The resilient stand made the South African bowlers toil hard for their next breakthrough, before it eventually came in the form of Muneeba Ali (76 off 94 balls) as skipper Laura Wolvaardt tossed the ball back to the experienced Ayabonga Khaka in the 31st over of the innings, ending a fluent half-century from the opposition opening batter.
Aliya Riaz partnered alongside Sidra Amin, and the pair continued to build momentum in their innings with another substantial 68-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, taking the home side closer to the 220-run mark, inching closer to the crucial final phase of their innings. An unfortunate run-out ended Aliya Riaz’s (33 off 34 balls) confident stay at the crease to provide the 3rd breakthrough for South Africa in the 43rd over of the innings.
A well-set Sidra Amin did the bulk of the scoring after the departure of their skipper, Fatima Sana, as Pakistan posted a competitive total of 255/4 in their quota of 50 overs. Sidra Amin stayed unbeaten on 121* (150 balls), notching up her 5th century in the format. Her knock included 12 boundaries. Ayabonga Khaka (9-0-36-2) and Tumi Sekhukhune (8-1-37-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for South Africa. Marizanne Kapp (7-0-20-0) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (10-0-52-0) were impressive with the ball for their side.
Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits unbeaten centuries give Proteas ODI series lead
Chasing a target of 256, South Africa got off to a similar start, courtesy of an early introduction of spin providing the crucial breakthrough, as Sadia Iqbal cleaned up the visiting skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, in the 2nd over of the run chase. Former skipper Sune Luus joined Tazmin Brits and led some sort of a recovery with a much-needed 38-run partnership for the 2nd wicket, taking them closer to the 50-run mark.
Rameen Shamim ended Sune Luus’s impressive stay (30 off 35 balls) at the crease in the 10th over of the run chase to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
Marizanne Kapp partnered alongside Tazmin Brits, and the duo not just ensured that there were no further hiccups in the run chase but also smashed the Pakistani bowlers to all corners of the ground en route to their monumental 216-run unbeaten partnership for the 3rd wicket. It is the highest-ever 3rd wicket partnership for the Proteas in the format that seals the opening ODI of the series by 8 wickets and 10 balls to spare.
The duo of Tazmin Brits (101* off 121 balls) and Marizanne Kapp (121* off 128 balls) notched up their respective (5th and 4th) centuries in the process. Sadia Iqbal (9.2-0-41-1) and Rameen Shamim (10-1-29-1) were the lone wicket-takers with the ball for Pakistan.
Marizanne Kapp was awarded the Player of the Match for her ODI-best effort, 121* (128 balls) with the bat for her side. Her knock included 13 boundaries and a couple of maximums. Besides her exploits with the bat, she was also super economical (7-0-20-0) with the ball for her side.
