In a rain-marred encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, South African women recorded a dominant 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka Women in the 18th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The match, reduced to 20 overs per side due to persistent rain, showcased South Africa’s professionalism and batting prowess as they chased down a modest target of 106 in just 14.5 overs. So let’s take a look at the highlights of SL-W vs. SA-W 19th matches.
Rain disrupts the match
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to take advantage of the home conditions. However, rain intervened after the 12th over with the score at 46/2. After a delay of more than five hours, play resumed and the match was shortened to 20 overs per side, forcing Sri Lanka to rebuild momentum under pressure.
Sri Lanka battles the bat
Sri Lanka could only manage 105/7 in 20 overs against a disciplined South African bowling attack. Vishmi Gunaratne, who returned after being out injured on 12, top-scored with a bouncy 34 off 33 balls and showed grit against the moving ball.
For South Africa, Nonkululeko Mlaba was the star player with the ball, claiming 3 for 30, while Masabata Klaas took two wickets and Nadine de Klerk bagged one. Despite a decent start, Sri Lanka failed to accelerate in the death overs, leaving their bowlers with little to defend.
Wolvaardt and Britten seal the chase
In response, the South African openers – captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits – made the target easy. The duo struck with complete authority, displaying an array of elegant strokes and powerful drives.
Wolvaardt led from the front, hitting an unbeaten 60 off 47 balls, while the British backed her with a solid 49 off 42 balls. The pair ensured South Africa reached the target effortlessly in 14.5 overs, sealing a comprehensive 10-wicket victory (DLS method).
Player of the match – Laura Wolvaardt
South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was named Player of the Match for her stylish and controlled stroke. After the win, she expressed her relief at finally being able to play after the long rain delay and praised her team’s intention and adaptability.
Captains’ reactions
Laura Wolvie (South African): “It feels great to get a win after such a long wait. We stayed positive and played aggressively despite the rain delays. Proud of the way the team executed our plans.”
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka): “We wanted to put runs on the board but the rain changed the rhythm of the match. The conditions were challenging for spinners. We will try to come back stronger in the next two matches.”
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