Why NZ-W Lost to SA-W in the 7th Match of ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: 3 Key Reasons Behind the Defeat

The New Zealand Women looked set to take charge early on in Indore, but cricket has a knack of humbling the most experienced of them all. Suzie Bates’ disastrous golden duck in her 350th international match sent shock waves through the Kiwi dressing room, and even though Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday tried to stabilize the innings with quickfire knocks of 85 and 45 respectively, the momentum never really shifted in their favour. With 231 on the board after 47.5 overs, it seemed a defendable score, but cricket is hardly that simple. 

A Batting Collapse at the Wrong Time

New Zealand’s innings looked good on paper, yet a worrying trend showed itself in the scoreboard: wickets falling in bunches when it mattered. Georgia Plimmer’s 31 was encouraging, but the middle order continued to stutter. Amelia Kerr’s 23 didn’t provide the anchor New Zealand required, and with the two quick dismissals of Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green, increased pressure came on. Sophie Devine’s determined 85 couldn’t stave off the inevitable; the tail was swept away by some sharp deliveries from Nonkululeko Mlaba in the blink of an eye. The fact that the top order couldn’t turn promising starts into double-figure partnerships dealt the innings a parched total, and eventually a total below par for a team chasing in Indore conditions.

Tazmin Brits’ Masterclass

The collapse of New Zealand was the setting; Tazmin Brits was the plot twist that rewrote the entire script. Her 101 off 89 balls was a surgical strike on the Kiwi bowling. She feasted on everything loose, turned the strike over fabulously, and never let South Africa slip from coasting control of the chase. By the time she was out to Lea Tahuhu, SA were at 185 and were in a virtually unassailable position in the context of this chase. Add to that Sune Luus’ steady 83 and the outcome is almost inevitable—Brits didn’t just play a great innings; she turned the whole script upside down, and to which New Zealand had no answer.

Fielding Frailties and Death Overs Execution

Even allowing for the batting giddiness and the genius of Britz, New Zealand gave subtle but useful fielding openings. The extras of 21, of which only 19 were no-balls, nevertheless assisted the scoring of the South African lot. Taking into account also one or two doubtful run-outs, which might have checked a little the imminent chase, shows that the fielding lapses increased the danger. Added to that is the fact that the bowling in the last few overs was bad, not only from the point of view of variety of bowling, but also from the point of view of lack of control, which made the chase easier. If the good sides take the fewest cracks, it does not merely mean the loss of matches, but that you are completely beaten from the time you go in to score, until the finish of the play, just as New Zealand was in this match.

In the end, the scoreboard showed a straightforward tale: 234 for 4 in 40.5 overs, a victory for South Africa by six wickets with virtually nine overs in hand. For New Zealand, this defeat was a mixture of poor execution on their part, brilliance on the part of the other side, and missed opportunities on their part, which accumulated until they had lost the game. Cricket is seldom fair, but it is sometimes relentlessly accurate, and on this occasion the South Africans were the sharper and the better-disciplined side.

FAQs

1. Who won the 7th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 between NZ-W and SA-W?

South Africa Women won by 6 wickets with 55 balls remaining.

2. How many runs did New Zealand Women score?

New Zealand Women scored 231 runs in 47.5 overs.

3. Who was the Player of the Match?

Tazmin Brits was awarded Player of the Match for her 101-run innings.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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