In-form centurions power Proteas and Pakistan's CWC25 hopes
The two teams are heading into the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 with a string of impressive performances from their top-order batting mainstays.
With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 right around the corner, Pakistan and South Africa have been applying finishing touches to their preparation in a three-match ODI series.
Having already gone 1-0 up following a win in the series opener, the Proteas took the unassailable 2-0 lead on Friday in Lahore with a 25-run win in the second ODI.
While skipper Laura Wolvaardt produced a characteristic ton up the order, the standout for the visitors was her opening partner, Tazmin Brits.
The 34-year-old produced a career-best ODI display, notching an unbeaten 171 off 141 deliveries to help the Proteas to 292/3 in a rain-curtailed fixture.
Brits, who was named Player of the Match for her showings in Lahore, has been enjoying a sensational run with the bat.
The South Africa opener has scored three centuries in her past three ODI outings, including the first ODI against Pakistan, where she scored a gritty 101 off 121 deliveries.
South Africa will also take confidence in the fact that Brits and Wolvaardt have also been the most successful partnership in Women’s ODI since the previous Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022.
The duo have amassed 1536 runs from 26 innings, averaging a stellar 59.07 during this time period.
Get your tickets now for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025
Book your Women’s World Cup tickets now and say ‘I was there’ | CWC25
Everyone in India remembers where they were in 2011. Book your #CWC25 tickets now, and say ‘I was there’ in 2025 🫵
Pakistan meanwhile, also have a silver lining despite a series loss at home against South Africa.
Top-order stalwart Sidra Amin has looked in fine fettle, having scored consecutive tons in the ongoing series.
Amin remains the second-highest run-getter behind Brits with scores of 121* and 122 from the two outings. She remains the only Pakistan batter to have scored a ton at the Women’s Cricket World Cup, having attained the feat against Bangladesh in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Highlights: Sidra Ameen hits stirring century
The 33-year-old, set to feature in her third Women’s Cricket World Cup, will be key to Pakistan’s big ambitions at the big stage starting September 30.
While Pakistan will face off against Bangladesh in their first fixture of the World Cup on 2 October in Colombo, South Africa will kickstart their campaign against England the following day in Guwahati.