Despite a gritty half-century from captain Sophie Devine, New Zealand Women were bundled out for 231 in 47.5 overs against South Africa Women in the Women’s World Cup 2025 clash at Holkar Stadium, Indore. At the halfway stage, South Africa hold the edge, with the live win predictor giving them 68% chance of victory.
Early Collapse, Middle-Order Revival
The morning started on a disastrous note for New Zealand as veteran opener Suzie Bates departed for a golden duck, trapped lbw by Marizanne Kapp on the very first ball of the match. Pressure mounted as Amelia Kerr (23 off 42) and Georgia Plimmer (31 off 68) struggled to accelerate on a sluggish surface, leaving New Zealand cautiously placed at 44/2 in 13 overs.
That’s when captain Sophie Devine stepped up.
Displaying a blend of composure and controlled aggression, Devine anchored the innings with a superb 85 off 98 balls, smashing 9 boundaries and rebuilding the innings with Brooke Halliday, who played a breezy 45 off 37 deliveries.
Their partnership lifted New Zealand from trouble to a competitive position—adding 86 runs for the fourth wicket.
Mlaba Turns the Game South Africa’s Way
Just when New Zealand looked set for 260+, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba produced a match-turning spell.
She ran through the middle and lower order with 4/40 in 10 overs, removing Halliday, Maddy Green, Lea Tahuhu, and most crucially, Devine herself. Her tight lines and dip made scoring difficult, and wickets tumbled rapidly in the final 10 overs.
New Zealand’s lower order contributed only 44 runs after Devine’s dismissal, with run-outs adding to the chaos.
South Africa’s Chase: Advantage, But Not Over Yet
With 231 on the board, New Zealand have something to defend—but South Africa’s powerful batting lineup, led by Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, will back themselves to chase this down comfortably on a traditionally batting-friendly surface.
However, New Zealand’s bowling attack—featuring Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu—has the firepower to make this chase tricky if they strike early.
Key Scorecard Highlights
| Top Performers | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Sophie Devine (NZ) | 85 (98) |
| Brooke Halliday (NZ) | 45 (37) |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba (SA) | 4/40 (10) |
| Marizanne Kapp (SA) | 1/34 (8) |
What to Expect in the Second Innings
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If South Africa avoid early wickets, they should chase this comfortably.
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But New Zealand, known for their fighting spirit, will hunt for swing under lights in Indore.
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The first 10 overs of the chase could decide the match.
