n the lead-up to their 4th fixture of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 campaign, South Africa’s 26-year-old right-arm pacer Tumi Sekhukhune addressed the media in Visakhapatnam ahead of a crucial encounter against Bangladesh, led by skipper Nigar Sultana Joty, set to begin at 3 PM IST on 13 October.
Having played her first game in the ongoing edition, in the thrilling three-wicket victory over India on 9 October, Sekhukhune returned tidy figures of 7-0-29-1 in the first innings, showcasing her trademark change of pace in a match where every moment mattered. The Laura Wolvaardt-led side, stunned by a 10-wicket defeat to England in Guwahati on 3 October, have since staged an impressive turnaround with back-to-back wins over New Zealand and India, and now seek to continue their momentum in a fixture that demands both tactical discipline and execution in spin-friendly conditions.
Sekhukhune, who made her international debut on 16 September 2018 against the West Indies at Bridgetown, has picked up 24 wickets at 41.91 with an economy of 4.82 across 27 innings in 30 ODIs. In her press conference, she revealed the team’s mindset after the recent win against India, “I think the team is super excited. We actually took the win, but we don’t want to dwell on it. We want to focus on other matches, as they are as important as the one that we played.”
For South Africa, the bounce back after a dismal opener owes much to collective unity and adaptability. Sekhukhune’s role is not primarily about hunting wickets but about imposing control in the middle overs, a responsibility she sees as vital alongside stalwarts Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, and Nonkululeko Mlaba, the latter having been in imperious form with 6 wickets at 15.83 in the current edition, including a four-wicket haul.
“With me coming in, I just want to restrict the runs, be consistent in bowling my lines and lengths. If I do pick up wickets, then it’s a win for me, but mostly it’s to restrict getting hit for runs.”
Bangladesh’s strength in spin bowling is well-known, making them a tricky opponent in subcontinental conditions. Sekhukhune acknowledged the challenge but emphasised a measured approach, “We know they’re gonna come with slow bowlers, typically spinners. We want to take it one step at a time, one ball at a time, and keep ticking all the boxes we didn’t do well in the previous games.”
Her deliberate use of slower balls in Visakhapatnam’s humid, turning conditions was no accident. Picking up her lone wicket against India with a delivery clocked at 75 km/h, she blended pace variation effectively. “I tried to change up my pace… sometimes pace doesn’t go your way here. Even back home with the coaches, we spoke about how crucial it would be for me since I don’t have much pace, so yeah, I think that worked well.”
South Africa’s immediate focus is on Bangladesh, but the fixture list stretches ahead to contests against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and finally a high-voltage clash with defending champions Australia. Sekhukhune is wary of underestimating any side, “Firstly, there’s no easy team; we watch every game and see what we can do better. With Bangladesh, that’s what we’re going to look forward to.”
While Sekhukhune brings containment, Mlaba has emerged as South Africa’s wicket-taking spearhead both in the ongoing World Cup and over the past two years. Since January 2023, Mlaba has registered 39 wickets at 27.43 in 28 innings, including two four-wicket hauls. Her standout performance came on 14 June 2025 against the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados, when she produced 10-0-33-4 in a match-winning effort. Her growing stature adds depth and variety to South Africa’s attack as the team prepares for a spin-heavy battle.
With renewed confidence, a balanced bowling unit, and a fast learner in Sekhukhune adapting quickly to conditions, South Africa enters the Visakhapatnam contest knowing that victory could go a long way in helping them seal that top four slot moving forward. In a format where every game counts, their recent trajectory under Wolvaardt suggests they are ready not just to compete, but to dictate terms.
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