As the white-ball action shifts to the 50-over format, South Africa and Pakistan find themselves at a crucial junction in their respective journeys. The Proteas come into this series with a point to prove on home soil, looking to maintain their historical dominance over the visitors, while Pakistan is eager to build on their recent T20I success where they showed they could more than hold their own. Both sides are viewing this series as a vital building block for the ICC Women’s Championship, meaning there is much more than just a trophy on the line—it’s about locking in points for the next World Cup cycle and finding the right balance in their squads.
Squads:
South Africa Women’s Cricket Team
Faye Tunnicliffe, Chloe Tryon, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Karabo Meso, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta, Ayanda Hlubi, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Fay Cowling, Nadine de Klerk, Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Umm-e-Hani
Players to watch out:
Tazmin Brits
Tazmin Brits enters this series in the form of her life, having recently shattered records by scoring five ODI centuries in the 2025 calendar year. She has become a nightmare for the Pakistan bowling attack, notably smashing a career-best 171* against them just a few months ago in Lahore. With 1,713 career runs at an average of 35.69 and a strike rate of 80.80, she is the clear anchor and primary threat at the top of the South African order.
Nonkululeko Mlaba
As one of the premier left-arm spinners in the world, Mlaba provides South Africa with immense control and a wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. She has already picked up 58 wickets in her ODI career, including a recent standout performance of 4/33 against Ireland and a solid showing in the 2025 World Cup. Currently ranked 7th in the world for T20Is, she brings that same high-pressure energy to the longer format, where her economy rate and ability to break partnerships remain her greatest assets.
Sidra Amin
Sidra Amin is arguably Pakistan’s most reliable batter, recently becoming only the third woman from her country to surpass the 2,000-run milestone in ODIs. Her record against South Africa is particularly impressive, having struck two centuries in her last few appearances against them, including a brilliant 122 in a high-scoring chase. With 2,409 career runs and 6 centuries to her name, she will be the prized wicket for the South African bowlers as she looks to maintain her average of over 30 at the top.
Aliya Riaz
Aliya Riaz remains the powerhouse of the Pakistan middle order, known for her ability to clear the ropes and accelerate when the game is on the line. She has accumulated over 1,600 runs in 81 ODIs, with a personal best of 81 ironically coming against South Africa, proving she enjoys their pace-heavy attack. Beyond her batting, her experience as a medium pacer who has taken 12 ODI wickets makes her a vital tactical asset for the captain in tight situations.
Pitch:
The surface at Mangaung Oval typically offers a balanced contest between bat and ball, often starting slightly slow or tacky before quickening up to provide even bounce. While it is generally a fantastic track for batters to hit through the line, pacers can find early movement with the new ball, and spinners often become influential as the match progresses and the surface wears.
Weather:
The forecast for Bloemfontein indicates a high of 27°C and a low of 17°C. The day will be mostly cloudy with a 25% chance of precipitation, while the night brings a higher 85% chance of light rain and north winds at 8 mph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Faye Tunnicliffe, Chloe Tryon, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin
Match Details:
Date – February 22, 2025
Time – 1:30 PM IST
Venue – Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
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