Sri Lanka Women vs South Africa Women – ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Preview

Date: Friday, 17th October 2025
Time: 10:30 AM GMT | 03:30 PM IST | 09:30 AM BST
Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Kettarama, Colombo
Tournament: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

Match Overview

The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 takes a thrilling turn as Sri Lanka Women face off against South Africa Women at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With the tournament still in its early stages, both teams are eager to make a strong statement in a high-stakes encounter. The match promises to be a fascinating clash of styles, with South Africa in fine form and Sri Lanka looking to bounce back after a challenging start.

Team Form & Momentum

Sri Lanka Women have had a mixed start to their World Cup campaign, with two losses and two no-results. However, the presence of key players like Harshitha Samarawickrama and Inoka Ranaweera has been a silver lining. The team's performance will largely depend on their batters' ability to post a competitive total and their bowlers' capacity to contain the potent South African lineup.

South Africa Women, on the other hand, are in a strong position following three consecutive wins. Their balanced squad has shown depth in both batting and bowling, led by the ever-reliable Nonkululeko Mlaba and the all-round brilliance of Nadine de Klerk. South Africa's recent dominance suggests they are the favorites in this match, but Sri Lanka will be determined to spoil their momentum.

Key Players to Watch

Sri Lanka Women

• Harshitha Samarawickrama (WK) – The team’s leading run-scorer with 424 runs at an average of 42.4 and four fifties.
• Inoka Ranaweera – The star bowler with 11 wickets in six innings at an average of 22.54 and an economy of 4.9.
• Nilakshika Silva – A consistent performer with 334 runs at an average of 37 and a strike rate of 87.7.

South Africa Women

• Nonkululeko Mlaba – Leading the attack with 23 wickets at an average of 21.1 and an economy of 4.7.
• Nadine de Klerk – A dangerous all-rounder with 261 runs at an average of 30.9 and 14 wickets in the tournament.
• Tazmin Brits – The top run-scorer for South Africa with 749 runs at an average of 68.1 and a strike rate of 95.7, including five centuries.

Venue Insights – R Premadasa Stadium

R Premadasa Stadium has historically been a batting-friendly venue, with an average first-innings score of 252.9 in the last five years. The pitch tends to assist fast bowlers in the early stages, but as the game progresses, spinners have the upper hand.

• Batting First Win Percentage: 63.6%
• Bowling First Win Percentage: 36.4%
• Average Wickets per Innings: 8.58 (1st Innings), 7.54 (2nd Innings)
• Wickets per Phase: Powerplay (1.26), Middle Overs (4.26), Death Overs (3.33)

The toss could play a pivotal role in this match, and with the toss predicted to go Sri Lanka’s way, they may look to capitalize on the early conditions to post a formidable total.

Historical Head-to-Head

In their last five encounters, the teams have shared the spoils:

• Sri Lanka Wins: 2
• South Africa Wins: 2

This evenly matched history adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest.

Match Predictions

• Toss Winner: Sri Lanka
• Match Winner: South Africa
• Top Batter Runs: Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka), Tazmin Brits (South Africa)
• Top Bowler Wickets: Inoka Ranaweera (Sri Lanka), Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa)
• Most Sixes: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Chloe Tryon (South Africa)
• Player of the Match: Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa)
• Team Scores (Batting First): Sri Lanka 220+, South Africa 250+

Final Thoughts

This match is a critical fixture in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, with both teams needing to secure a win to strengthen their positions in the tournament. South Africa’s superior form and depth give them a slight edge, but Sri Lanka's home advantage and strong individual performers could tip the balance.

Fans around the world, including at the Tanzania Cricket Association Watch Party in Dar es Salaam, will be eagerly watching as two of the world’s top teams battle it out in a high-stakes encounter.

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