South Africa Women Vs Pakistan Women: Luus’ 93 Seals 37-Run Win in Bloemfontein
In the opening match of the south africa women vs pakistan women ODI series, a rain-affected contest at Mangaung Oval ended with South Africa beating Pakistan by 37 runs in Bloemfontein, a result that gives the Proteas early control of the three-match series and carries weight for the ICC Women's Championship race toward 2029 qualification.
South Africa Women Vs Pakistan Women: Luus dominates the innings
Captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat under cloudy skies at Mangaung Oval as the match was reduced to 41 overs a side because of weather interruptions. The Proteas posted 260 for 6 in their allotted 41 overs, paced by an unbeaten 93 from Sune Luus off 78 balls with eight fours and one six. Tazmin Brits fell cheaply for 10 in the fourth over, while Wolvaardt made 43 and Lara Goodall 13 as South Africa recovered to 84 for 3 by the 17th over.
Luus and Annerie Dercksen then put together an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 12. 2 overs; Dercksen finished 31 off 37 before being dismissed by Syeda Aroob Shah. Sinalo Jafta supplied late acceleration with a career-best 57 not out off 38 balls at a strike rate of 150, the highest strike rate of the match. For Pakistan, Nashra Sandhu returned figures of 2 for 45 and Ayesha Zafar 1 for 29.
How the chase unfolded in Bloemfontein
Chasing 261, Pakistan began cautiously. Muneeba Ali departed cheaply, and then Sidra Amin and Ayesha Zafar rebuilt the innings with a 116-run partnership for the third wicket that put Pakistan on 159 for 3 and within reach, needing just over six runs an over at that stage. Amin scored 68 from 69 balls while Zafar made 81 off 94 deliveries.
The momentum shifted when Luus broke the partnership, dismissing Amin; Luus finished with bowling figures of 2 for 31 in six overs. Aliya Riaz kept hopes alive with a brisk 32 off 26 balls that included six boundaries, but Tumi Sekhukhune produced the decisive blows with 3 for 50 in 7. 5 overs. Pakistan were bowled out for 223 in 38. 5 overs, falling 37 runs short.
Coach Mandla Mashimbyi demands bravery and a winners’ mindset
Fresh from a T20I series victory over Pakistan, the Proteas moved quickly to the 50-over format with head coach Mandla Mashimbyi urging ‘bravery’ and a winners’ mindset ahead of the ODIs. Mashimbyi described the T20 leg as a chance to gauge progress ahead of the T20 World Cup in England in June, saying it was “a perfect opportunity for us to gauge where we are and identify the gaps we need to fill. ”
He emphasised execution with the bat, noting that some players have been hampered by the positions they get into before playing shots and that coaches are helping players “understand what position to get into for which shot. ” Mashimbyi added, “The mindset is that we want to be winners. When you think like a winner, you train like one and you operate like one, ” and said the team is focusing on small individual victories that build toward long-term goals.
Mashimbyi linked bravery to responsibility—“Bravery and risk are synonymous, ” he said—and outlined that responsibility in the longer format could mean building partnerships, batting deep, or delivering under pressure with the ball. He noted the squad use a formula to break the innings into manageable phases and that executing that blueprint would help their qualification push for the 2029 World Cup as part of the ICC Women's Championship and shape the side for England in June.
Squad list and the remaining fixtures
The squad named for the series includes Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Tazmin Brits, Fay Cowling, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloé Tryon and Faye Tunnicliffe. The teams move on to the next two ODIs on the schedule:
- Wednesday: SuperSport Park, Centurion, 2 p. m. ET
- Sunday, March 1: Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 10 a. m. ET
The south africa women vs pakistan women series now shifts to SuperSport Park for the second ODI on Wednesday at 2 p. m. ET, where South Africa will look to consolidate the early advantage won in Bloemfontein.
