Colombo, Oct 22: South Africa continued their dominant run in the Womenâs World Cup with a commanding 150-run victory over Pakistan in a rain-affected contest here on Tuesday, moving to the top of the points table.
Veteran allrounder Marizanne Kapp starred with both bat and ball, while skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus contributed crucial half-centuries as the Proteas secured their fifth consecutive win, already guaranteeing a semifinal berth.
Electing to bat first in a match initially reduced to 40 overs per side, South Africa posted a formidable 312 for 9.
Wolvaardt led the charge with a fluent 90, while Luus added a steady 61. Kappâs finishing touch came in the final overs, smashing an unbeaten 68 off 43 balls, propelling the total to a daunting figure. Nadine de Klerk also played a handy supporting role, scoring 41 runs to bolster the innings. Pakistanâs bowlers struggled to contain the Proteasâ firepower, though Nashra Sandhu (3/45) and Sadia Iqbal (3/63) provided brief resistance.
With the weather playing a disruptive role, South Africa then turned to their bowling attack, and Kapp again led the charge. She removed key wickets early, reducing Pakistan to 35 for 4 in 10 overs.
Subsequent rain delays forced the match to be further reduced to 20 overs per side, with Pakistanâs chase recalculated to a revised target of 234 under the DLS method.
Chasing the revised target, Pakistan struggled to regain composure on a challenging track. Regular wickets fell at crucial intervals, leaving the visitors reeling at 83 for 7. Kapp completed her all-round performance with 3 wickets for 20 runs, while Nondumiso Shangase chipped in with 2 for 19, effectively ending Pakistanâs resistance.
The victory not only reinforced South Africaâs status as tournament frontrunners but also saw them leapfrog Australia and England to claim the top spot on the points table with 10 points from six games.