The Sri Lanka Women Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team timeline reflects a rivalry filled with determination, tactical battles, and unforgettable performances. Over the years, both teams have produced thrilling ODI and T20 encounters that tested skill, temperament, and consistency under pressure. South Africa often relied on pace bowling and aggressive batting, while Sri Lanka built their success through spin, patience, and fearless leadership from experienced players like Chamari Atapattu. From dramatic last over finishes to important ICC tournament clashes, this rivalry has continued to grow in intensity. Every match added new memories, emotional moments, and historic scorecards that shaped women’s cricket across international competitions.
Recent Matches Timeline
Match Date
Format
Tournament / Series
Venue
Winner / Margin
17 Oct 2025
WODI
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka
South Africa Women won by 10 wickets (DLS)
09 May 2025
WODI
Sri Lanka Women’s ODI Tri-Series
Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka
South Africa Women won by 76 runs
02 May 2025
WODI
Sri Lanka Women’s ODI Tri-Series
Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Women won by 5 wickets
17 Apr 2024
WODI
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Sri Lanka Women won by 6 wickets
13 Apr 2024
WODI
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Kimberley, South Africa
South Africa Women won by 7 wickets
09 Apr 2024
WODI
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
East London, South Africa
No Result (Match abandoned due to rain)
03 Apr 2024
WT20I
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
East London, South Africa
Sri Lanka Women won by 4 wickets
30 Mar 2024
WT20I
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Sri Lanka Women won by 7 wickets
27 Mar 2024
WT20I
Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Benoni, South Africa
South Africa Women won by 79 runs
Head-to-Head Evolution
Format
Total Matches
South Africa Wins
Sri Lanka Wins
No Result / Tied
Historical Trend
Women’s ODI (WODI)
25
16
6
3
South Africa historically dominates, but Sri Lanka pulled off a historic 301-run chase in 2024.
Women’s T20I (WT20I)
17
12
5
0
South Africa leads overall, but Sri Lanka won their first-ever bilateral series (2-1) against them in 2024.
ODI World Cup
6
4
2
0
South Africa holds the upper hand, including a dominant 10-wicket victory in their most recent World Cup encounter.
All Formats Combined
42
28
11
3
South Africa maintains a clear lead, though modern fixtures are significantly more evenly matched.
Top Batting Performances
Player
Team
Runs / Score
Format
Match Date & Venue
Significance
Chamari Athapaththu
Sri Lanka
195 not out (139)
WODI
17 Apr 2024, Potchefstroom
Highest individual score in a successful WODI run chase in cricket history.
Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa
184 not out (147)
WODI
17 Apr 2024, Potchefstroom
Highest individual score by a South African woman in ODI history.
Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa
60 not out
WT20I
17 Oct 2025, Colombo
Guided South Africa to a dominant 10-wicket World Cup victory.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Sri Lanka
54 not out
WT20I
30 Mar 2024, Potchefstroom
Starred in a critical chase to anchor Sri Lanka’s historic first-ever T20I series win over South Africa.
Top Bowling Performances
Player
Team
Bowling Figures
Format
Match Date & Venue
Significance
Malki Madara
Sri Lanka
4/50
WODI
02 May 2025, Colombo
Tied for the top 3 best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan pace bowler in WODI history.
Nonkululeko Mlaba
South Africa
3/30
WT20I
17 Oct 2025, Colombo
Paralyzed the Sri Lankan top order during the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup clash.
Ayabonga Khaka
South Africa
3/28
WODI
13 Apr 2024, Kimberley
Earned match-winning figures to restrict Sri Lanka in a comfortable 7-wicket Proteas win.
Marizanne Kapp
South Africa
3/37
WODI
11 Feb 2019, Potchefstroom
Dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order to register a comprehensive home series triumph.
Biggest Wins & Closest Matches
Match Category
Format
Winner
Margin
Match Date & Venue
Significance / Context
Biggest Win (Wickets)
WT20I
South Africa Women
10 wickets
04 Aug 2022, Edgbaston
South Africa skittled Sri Lanka for just 46 runs at the Commonwealth Games.
Biggest Win (Runs)
WT20I
South Africa Women
79 runs
27 Mar 2024, Benoni
The Proteas posted 198/5 and completely choked out the Sri Lankan chase.
Biggest Win (WODI Runs)
WODI
South Africa Women
153 runs
2010, Potchefstroom
Historically the largest run-margin blowout between the sides in the 50-over format.
Closest Win (Runs)
WT20I
Sri Lanka Women
3 runs
10 Feb 2023, Cape Town
Sri Lanka pulled off a massive upset in the opening game of the 2023 T20 World Cup.
Closest Win (Wickets)
WT20I
South Africa Women
2 wickets
03 Feb 2019, Johannesburg
A low-scoring thriller where South Africa scraped past Sri Lanka’s 90/8 with just 2 balls left.
Closest WODI Chase
WODI
Sri Lanka Women
4 wickets
02 May 2025, Colombo
Sri Lanka tracked down 235 with stellar knocks from Samarawickrama and Dilhari.
The First Crossing of Paths Between Sri Lanka Women and South Africa Women
The rivalry between the Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team and the South Africa Women’s cricket team started quietly but soon became one of the most competitive contests in women’s cricket. South Africa entered the rivalry with stronger pace bowling and better international experience, while Sri Lanka relied heavily on spin and disciplined batting. Early matches were mostly controlled by South Africa, but Sri Lanka gradually improved in home conditions. The rivalry became more exciting when close finishes and pressure chases started deciding matches. Fans admired the fearless attitude shown by Sri Lankan batters against South African fast bowlers. Over time, both teams developed respect for each other through tough ODI and T20 contests played across Asia and Africa.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2000
SAW 189/5 vs SLW 145
South Africa Women
Daleen Terblanche 74
Colombo
2002
SAW 210/6 vs SLW 168
South Africa Women
Charlize van der Westhuizen 82
Johannesburg
2004
SLW 172/8 vs SAW 169
Sri Lanka Women
Shashikala Siriwardene 4 wickets
Colombo
2005
SAW 201/7 vs SLW 154
South Africa Women
Claire Terblanche 65
Pretoria
When Sri Lanka’s Spin Attack Started Troubling South Africa
Sri Lanka Women changed the rivalry by using spin bowling as their biggest weapon against South Africa. Slow pitches in Colombo and Dambulla allowed Sri Lankan bowlers to control matches during middle overs. South African batters struggled against accurate line and length, especially when pressure increased during run chases. Bowlers like Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari became important match winners. Sri Lanka’s tactical approach focused on reducing boundaries and forcing mistakes. Several low scoring thrillers turned the rivalry into a tactical battle rather than just a power game. South Africa still fought hard with aggressive batting, but Sri Lanka’s confidence grew with every close victory. Fans started expecting tense finishes whenever these two sides met in Asian conditions.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2007
SLW 156/6 vs SAW 152
Sri Lanka Women
Inoka Ranaweera 3 wickets
Colombo
2008
SLW 168/7 vs SAW 165
Sri Lanka Women
Chamari Atapattu 61
Dambulla
2009
SAW 194/8 vs SLW 154
South Africa Women
Sunette Loubser 4 wickets
Cape Town
2010
SAW 178/9 vs SLW 176
South Africa Women
Mignon du Preez 71
Potchefstroom
Chamari Atapattu and the Rise of Sri Lanka’s Fighting Spirit
Chamari Atapattu completely changed the energy of Sri Lanka Women against South Africa Women. Her fearless batting gave Sri Lanka belief against one of the strongest bowling attacks in women’s cricket. She attacked fast bowlers during powerplays and played aggressive strokes under pressure. South Africa often created plans specifically to dismiss her early because her wicket changed the match completely. Chamari’s match winning innings inspired younger Sri Lankan players to play positive cricket instead of defensive cricket. Some of the rivalry’s most memorable moments came from her counterattacking knocks in difficult chases. South African bowlers like Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail tested her with pace, but Chamari responded with confidence and fearless stroke play in major encounters.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2013
SLW 198/8 vs SAW 196
Sri Lanka Women
Chamari Atapattu 89
Benoni
2014
SAW 204/3 vs SLW 160
South Africa Women
Dane van Niekerk 77
Colombo
2016
SAW 223/5 vs SLW 180
South Africa Women
Marizanne Kapp 4 wickets
Durban
2017
SLW 176/4 vs SAW 172
Sri Lanka Women
Chamari Atapattu 69
Colombo
South Africa Women’s Pace Battery and Their Era of Control
South Africa Women dominated several phases of the rivalry because of their world class fast bowling attack. Bowlers like Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp consistently troubled Sri Lankan batters with pace, swing, and aggressive short deliveries. South Africa often attacked early wickets and controlled matches from the powerplay overs. Their disciplined bowling created scoreboard pressure that Sri Lanka sometimes failed to handle. Batters like Laura Wolvaardt and Lizelle Lee also played major roles by building solid partnerships. During this period, South Africa looked physically stronger and tactically sharper in crucial moments. Even when Sri Lanka fought hard at home, South Africa usually stayed calm under pressure and finished matches professionally with strong all round performances.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2018
SAW 248/6 vs SLW 168
South Africa Women
Shabnim Ismail 5 wickets
Kimberley
2019
SAW 186/4 vs SLW 182
South Africa Women
Lizelle Lee 83
Colombo
2020
SAW 221/5 vs SLW 149
South Africa Women
Laura Wolvaardt 92
Potchefstroom
2021
SLW 175/7 vs SAW 171
Sri Lanka Women
Harshitha Samarawickrama 53
Colombo
World Cup Battles That Intensified the Rivalry
ICC tournaments added extra pressure and emotion to the rivalry between Sri Lanka Women and South Africa Women. Every World Cup meeting carried huge importance because qualification points and knockout hopes depended on these matches. South Africa usually entered as favorites because of their experience and ranking, but Sri Lanka often surprised teams with fearless cricket. The 2023 qualification victory by Sri Lanka became one of the rivalry’s most emotional moments. Players celebrated passionately because the win proved Sri Lanka could defeat stronger opponents in global tournaments. Tactical captaincy decisions, bowling changes, and middle order partnerships became decisive factors in these matches. World Cup clashes also increased global attention on the rivalry and improved respect for women’s cricket worldwide.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Tournament
2013
SAW 230/5 vs SLW 167
South Africa Women
Marizanne Kapp 75
Women’s World Cup
2016
SAW 145/6 vs SLW 122
South Africa Women
Dane van Niekerk 4 wickets
T20 World Cup
2020
SAW 158/4 vs SLW 113
South Africa Women
Shabnim Ismail 3 wickets
ICC T20 World Cup
2023
SLW 129/4 vs SAW 126
Sri Lanka Women
Chamari Atapattu 68
ICC Qualifier
Emotional T20 Clashes and Last Over Drama
T20 cricket brought the most dramatic moments in the rivalry between Sri Lanka Women and South Africa Women. Several matches were decided in the final over, creating unforgettable pressure situations for players and fans. Sri Lanka often relied on calm finishing from middle order batters, while South Africa trusted aggressive hitting and powerful pace bowling. Crowds became emotionally involved because every run and wicket changed the momentum instantly. Players celebrated passionately after crucial wickets or match winning boundaries. Tactical decisions during death overs became extremely important. Bowlers had to defend small totals while batters faced immense pressure during chases. These close T20 battles increased the rivalry’s excitement and made every meeting unpredictable for cricket fans across the world.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2022
SLW 138/6 vs SAW 136
Sri Lanka Women
Nilakshi de Silva 42
Colombo
2022
SAW 144/7 vs SLW 140
South Africa Women
Chloe Tryon 36 and 2 wickets
Benoni
2023
SAW 151/5 vs SLW 148
South Africa Women
Tazmin Brits 59
East London
2024
SLW 162/4 vs SAW 160
Sri Lanka Women
Vishmi Gunaratne 71
Colombo
Modern Rivalry, New Generation Stars and Future Battles
The rivalry is now entering a new era with young players from both teams bringing fresh energy and modern tactics. Sri Lanka Women are developing fearless batters and stronger fielding standards, while South Africa Women continue to build one of the most balanced squads in international cricket. Social media and live broadcasting have also increased fan engagement around every series. Younger stars like Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Anneke Bosch, and Nadine de Klerk are shaping the future of this rivalry. Fitness, power hitting, and aggressive captaincy are now major features of women’s cricket. Future ICC tournaments could produce even bigger moments between these teams. The rivalry continues to grow with every dramatic contest played across different conditions worldwide.
Season
Score
Winning Team
Key Performance
Venue
2024
SAW 174/5 vs SLW 168
South Africa Women
Anneke Bosch 63
Johannesburg
2024
SLW 143/7 vs SAW 142
Sri Lanka Women
Kavisha Dilhari 3 wickets
Colombo
2025
SAW 202/4 vs SLW 154
South Africa Women
Nadine de Klerk 58
Cape Town
2025
SLW 177/5 vs SAW 175
Sri Lanka Women
Chamari Atapattu 81
Dambulla
Conclusion
The rivalry between Sri Lanka Women and South Africa Women has evolved into one of the most exciting contests in modern women’s cricket. It is a rivalry built on contrasting styles, passionate performances, and memorable individual brilliance. South Africa’s power and discipline often challenged Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit and tactical adaptability. At the same time, Sri Lanka repeatedly proved they could compete against higher ranked opposition in crucial matches. Generations of players have contributed to the rivalry’s growth through iconic innings, match winning spells, and emotional victories. As new stars continue to emerge, future encounters between these teams promise even greater drama, stronger competition, and unforgettable cricket moments for fans worldwide.
