South Africa Women vs Ireland Women T20I Match Preview: 7th December 2025

Date: Sunday, 7th December 2025
Venue: Boland Park, Paarl
Time: 12:00 PM GMT (05:30 PM IST | 02:00 PM Local)
Series: Ireland Women Tour of South Africa 2025 – 2nd T20I
Teams: South Africa Women vs Ireland Women

Match Overview

The second T20I of the Ireland Women's tour of South Africa takes place at the Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday, 7th December 2025. The hosts, South Africa Women, are coming off a dominant win in the opening match, where Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus starred with both bat and ball. Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after their five-match winning streak came to an end in the first T20I.

With the series finely poised at 1-0 in South Africa's favor, this match is crucial for both teams as they look to gain momentum ahead of the remaining fixtures in the T20I series.

Team Form and Strengths

South Africa Women

South Africa are in excellent form, having posted a record-breaking performance in the first T20I. Captain Laura Wolvaardt was instrumental, scoring an unbeaten 115, while Sune Luus delivered a match-winning all-round performance with 81 not out and 4/22. The middle order provided stability, and the bowling attack, led by Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sune Luus, managed to stifle Ireland's chase.

The hosts have a strong record in the 2025 season and will be confident of maintaining their advantage in this second T20I.

Ireland Women

Ireland's recent success has been underpinned by the consistency of their top order and a disciplined bowling attack. Gaby Lewis, the captain, is in sublime form, averaging 54.37 in ten innings this year. The middle order, spearheaded by Orla Prendergast, has also been a key contributor, while the spin and medium-pace options have been effective in the death overs.

However, the Irish side will need to address their inconsistency in the field and improve their chase performance if they are to register a win in Paarl.

Key Players to Watch

South Africa Women

• Laura Wolvaardt – A match-winner in the first T20I, Wolvaardt can dominate the opposition with her aggressive yet calculated batting.
• Sune Luus – A versatile all-rounder who can anchor the innings and pick up crucial wickets.
• Nonkululeko Mlaba – A dangerous leg-spinner with the ability to dismantle the opposition middle order.

Ireland Women

• Gaby Lewis – Ireland's cornerstone, Lewis has the ability to change the game with her elegant strokeplay.
• Orla Prendergast – A dual threat with the bat and ball, she can be a match-turner in the middle overs.
• Arlene Kelly – Ireland’s leading wicket-taker, Kelly has the ability to contain runs and pick up wickets in tight situations.

Venue Insights – Boland Park, Paarl

The Boland Park in Paarl is a well-balanced venue that offers good pace and bounce in the early overs. However, the pitch tends to slow down as the game progresses, which favors batting sides. The average first-innings score at this venue has been around 150 in recent years, and batting first offers a 62.5% win rate.

Wickets tend to fall at a healthy rate, with over 13 wickets falling per game on average. The powerplay overs are relatively safe, but the middle and death overs are where the game often turns, with a high wicket-taker potential.

Match Predictions

• Toss Winner: South Africa Women
• Match Winner: South Africa Women
• Top Batter (Runs): Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Gaby Lewis (Ireland)
• Top Bowler (Wickets): Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Orla Prendergast (Ireland)
• Most Sixes: Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Orla Prendergast (Ireland)
• Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
• Team Batting First Score: South Africa Women 170+, Ireland Women 130+

Key Insights

• Gaby Lewis has helped Ireland win 82% of her matches when she scores over 50.
• Orla Prendergast is a dual threat, averaging 127.62 with the bat and taking wickets at 21 apiece.
• Sune Luus has the ability to carry the innings and dismantle the opposition with her off-spin.
• Ireland's spinners, particularly Arlene Kelly and Cara Murray, have been effective in tight situations.
• The pitch at Boland Park favors a proactive batting approach, making it a potential high-scoring encounter.

Final Verdict

South Africa Women will be the team to beat in this second T20I, especially at a venue where they have historically performed well. With Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus in top form, and a disciplined bowling attack, the Proteas are strong favorites. However, Ireland's resilience and the ability of Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast to change the game cannot be overlooked. This match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams vying for control of the series.

Prediction: South Africa Women to win by 8-10 runs.
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