Women’s World Cup 2025: Wolvaardt and Brits shine as South Africa thrash Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in rain-soaked match | Cricket News
South Africa on Friday registered a resounding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a rain-affected Women’s World Cup match. The match was reduced to 20 overs per team after a rain delay of more than five hours.Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, South Africa’s premier pair, achieved exceptional unbeaten half-centuries. Wolvaardt scored 60 not out from 47 balls, while the British contributed 55 not out from 42 balls.South Africa managed to reach the target of 121 runs, set using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with 31 balls remaining. The team reached 125 without losing a wicket in 14.5 overs, with the British finishing the match with a six over midwicket.Nonkululeko Mlaba, the South African left-arm spinner, took three wickets for 30 runs despite difficult conditions with a wet and slippery ball. Sri Lanka managed to score 105 for seven with Vishmi Gunaratne contributing 34 runs off 33 balls.The revised target using the DLS method proved a challenge for Sri Lanka’s bowling unit against South Africa’s strong batting line-up. The opening partnership between Wolvaardt and Brits maintained a rapid scoring rate throughout the chase.Sri Lanka, choosing to bat first, struggled initially and lost two wickets for 37 runs in 10 overs. Rain halted play with Sri Lanka at 46 for two in 12 overs, leading to a five-hour delay.The match resumed after the groundskeepers worked efficiently to prepare the pitch. Kavisha Dilhari immediately showed her intent by hitting a six off Mlaba’s first ball after the restart.South Africa responded strongly by taking two quick wickets. Gunaratne, who had retired injured after being hit on the knee, returned to score important boundaries despite South Africa’s struggles with the wet ball.Before the rain delay, Masabata Klass gave South Africa an excellent start by dismissing Hasini Perera and captain Chamari Athapaththu early in the innings.Sri Lanka remains winless in the tournament, holding two points from five matches. These points came from rain-abandoned matches against Australia and New Zealand.South Africa have now won four matches in a row, showing a remarkable recovery from their first match of the tournament where England bowled them out for 69 runs.
