COLOMBO: Pakistan’s hopes for advancing to the semi-final ended as South Africa beat them in a rain-affected Women’s World Cup 2025 game at the R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a revised target of 234 in 20 overs after multiple rain interruptions, the Green Shirts were restricted to 83/7, losing the game by 150 runs.

Wicketkeeper batter Sidra Nawaz remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with an unbeaten 22 off 33 deliveries, followed by Natalia Pervaiz, who made a 24-ball 20. The duo also shared a 31-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Marizanne Kapp led the bowling charge for South Africa, taking three wickets for just 20 runs in her five overs. She was supported by Nondumiso Shangase, who made two strikes, while Ayabonga Khaka chipped in with one.

The 150-run victory lifted South Africa to the top of the ICC Women’s World Cup standings as they now have 10 points in six matches with a net run rate of 0.276.

Put into bat first, the Proteas Women piled up a formidable total of 312/5 in the allotted 40 overs as the match was reduced due to a two-hour-long rain interruption.

Pakistan, however, were initially set to chase the 306-run target in 40 overs as per the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS).

South Africa got off to a contrasting start to their innings as Pakistan captain Fatima Sana dismissed Tazmin Brits for a four-ball duck in the second over with just five runs on the board.

However, after the rain interruption, Laura Wolvaardt and Luus anchored the innings by putting together a crucial 118-run partnership, which saw both of them amass half-centuries.

The stand eventually culminated in the 17th over when Nashra Sandhu got Luss caught at extra cover. The right-handed batter scored 61 off 59 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries, including two sixes.

South Africa then lost another wicket in quick succession as Annerie Dercksen got run out in the 22nd over after mustering nine off 17 deliveries.

Following the back-to-back setbacks, experienced all-rounder Kapp joined skipper Wolvaardt in the middle for a vital 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket until the opener fell victim to Sandhu in the 31st over.

Wolvaardt remained the top-scorer for South Africa with 90 off 82 deliveries, studded with 10 fours and two sixes.

Kapp, on the other hand, stood her ground firm and bolstered South Africa’s total with an unbeaten 68 off 43 deliveries, laced with six fours and three sixes. She was adequately supported by Nadine de Klerk, who played a blistering cameo of 41 runs from just 16 deliveries, featuring three fours and four sixes.

Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking three wickets for 45 runs in eight overs, followed by Sadia Iqbal with two, while Fatima made one scalp.

EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. women’s Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have signed with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, aligning themselves with the mission to advocate for the protection of women’s sports from biological male transgender athletes. 

Skinner, who won silver in vault at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, spoke up about the issue earlier this year, and is now taking a harder stance. 

“I am excited to partner with [XX-XY Athletics founder] Jennifer Sey and her pro-woman XX-XY Athletics to tell my story as an athlete and a woman,” Skiner told Fox News Digital. 

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“Finding my voice has been hard — there’s no training for that. But every female athlete should find and use hers. No one trains you for moral courage or unwavering positivity — that’s a different kind of journey. I’m going to share that too. Why? To use my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes. But really, this is for my daughter.”

Skinner joins the brand after previously speaking out against her former teammate Simone Biles back in June. 

After Biles ignited a social media feud with fomer NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines for posting about a trans softball pitcher who won a Minnesota girls’ state title, Skinner was quick to side with Gaines publicly. Skinner now joins the same brand championed by Gaines, who was XX-XY Athletics’ first brand ambassador when it launched in 2024.

“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should elevate us — not diminish others. That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser’ — simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports,” Skinner said in a June statement. 

“I commend and appreciate Riley Gaines for having the courage to speak up. Throughout my own career, I endured being belittled, dismissed and ostracized behind the scenes by Simone… It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to use your platform to bully and demean… We should be lifting each other up — not tearing one another down for speaking hard truths.”

SIMONE BILES DEFENDS CALLING OUT FORMER TEAMMATE: ‘IT WAS RIGHT IN THAT MOMENT’

Meanwhile, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist, is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. She has authored a petition to protect the women’s category with over 500 signatures.

Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Women’s Sports Foundation senior director of advocacy, attends the 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2012. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)

Now, Hogshead joins XX-XY Athletics as the brand’s first Olympic gold medal brand ambassador. 

“Only strict eligibility standards for girls’ and women’s sports can guarantee fair, safe and respectful competition for us,” Hogshead told Fox News Digital. “More than 500 Olympians & Paralympians are playing it forward by signed Champion Women’s petition; they understand the dedication required to succeed and firmly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.” 

The two medalists headline the brand’s new campaign, “The Gold Medal Collection.” The campaign features other Team USA talent, including Taekwondo athlete Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady and swimmer Réka György.

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Former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner with Simone Biles (left) and former Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead (right). (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images, Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)

“As an athlete training to be the best in the world, I look up to women like Nancy and MyKayla, who’ve paved the way,” Bassett told Fox News Digital. 

“But I also know it’s on my generation to speak up and protect the path. Every hour I’ve spent training has been to test myself against the best female athletes in the world. If I’m ever asked to compete against a male, I’ll refuse. The integrity of competition relies on a level playing field for every female athlete that invests her time, dedication and sacrifice in her pursuit of excellence.” 

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