New Zealand Women and South Africa Women both lost their opening matches, and now they’re facing each other on October 6, 2025, at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
It’s one of those situations where neither team can really afford to lose again, two losses in a row at a World Cup basically puts you on the back foot for the rest of the tournament.
This match is going to tell us a lot about which team can handle pressure better. I’ll go through the squads, what’s been happening with both teams, the pitch conditions, and give you a prediction on who wins this one.
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women – Match Details
Match 7 of the tournament comes at a crucial time. Both teams know their backs are against the wall, and Holkar Stadium in Indore is where they’ll try to turn things around.
The 3 PM start means it’ll be hot, which always makes things harder for everyone on the field.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women |
| Date | Monday, October 6, 2025 |
| Venue | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Tournament | ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 |
| Format | ODI (50 overs per side) |
This World Cup has eight teams competing in a round-robin format, with only the top four making it to the semi-finals. Every match matters, but this one probably matters more than most.
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women – Squads
Both teams have named their squads, though New Zealand made a late change that’s worth noting because it shows they’re trying to adjust their balance.
New Zealand Women’s Squad for World Cup 2025
The White Ferns squad includes Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Eden Carson, and Hannah Rowe (who replaced Flora Devonshire recently).
Key players in the New Zealand team are Sophie Devine is the captain and power-hitter at the top. Amelia Kerr is the player who can win matches with bat and ball, her leg-spin is genuinely world-class.
Suzie Bates brings years of World Cup experience, and that matters when things get tight.
South Africa Women Squad for World Cup 2025
South Africa’s squad features Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Annerie Dercksen, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Eliz-Mari Marx, and Mieke de Ridder.
Key players are Laura Wolvaardt who leads the batting and the team, she’s also the best batter by some distance. Marizanne Kapp can change games completely, either by taking wickets or scoring quick runs. Ayabonga Khaka leads the pace attack and needs to get early breakthroughs.
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women – Head-to-Head Record
New Zealand has won about 52% of the 48 ODI matches between these teams, while South Africa has won around 44%.
The interesting part is what happens in World Cups, specifically, New Zealand has won four out of six matches against South Africa at World Cups. That’s not a coincidence.
The White Ferns really have this ability to lift their game when the tournament pressure is on, something South Africa has struggled with historically. They’ve had talented teams before but haven’t quite delivered when it mattered most.
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women – Pitch Report & Venue Analysis
Holkar Stadium starts off decent for batting, but the pitch slows down as the match goes on. Spinners become more effective because the ball grips and turns more in the second innings.
Teams batting first usually put up scores between 240 and 250 here, and that’s often enough to defend if your spinners bowl well. The weather looks clear with temperatures around 32°C, it’s going to be draining.
The toss is important here. Most captains would want to bat first because the pitch deteriorates, though dew in the evening can flip that advantage if it makes the ball skid on nicely for batters chasing.
New Zealand Women vs South Africa Women – Match Prediction
New Zealand should win this match, and here’s why. South Africa’s batting is too top-heavy; if Wolvaardt, Brits, and Bosch don’t fire, the middle order hasn’t shown they can consistently bail the team out.
New Zealand’s batting goes much deeper, and even their lower-order players can contribute useful runs. The spinners are where this match will be won or lost.
Amelia Kerr on an Indore pitch is a nightmare for batters; when she gets drift, dip, and a sharp turn. South Africa’s spinners are good, but they don’t have anyone quite at that level.
Prediction: New Zealand Women to win by 20-30 runs. Their experience in handling World Cup pressure and superior spin bowling should be the difference.
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Conclusion: New Zealand Women Are Likely To Beat South Africa Women
Both teams desperately need this win after losing their opening matches, but the White Ferns have a better-balanced squad and, crucially, they know how to win under pressure at World Cups.
The spinners will be the ones to decide this match; whoever bowls better in the middle overs will control the game. Winning the toss helps, and batting first looks like the smarter option given how the pitch plays.
This is a must-watch because the winner gets their campaign back on track, while the loser faces a really difficult path to the semi-finals.
FAQs
The match is scheduled for Monday, October 6, 2025, starting at 3:00 PM IST at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, India.
You can follow live scores on the ICC official website, ESPN Cricinfo, major sports apps, or any cricket website that provides real-time updates.
Sophie Devine is captaining New Zealand Women, while Laura Wolvaardt is leading South Africa Women in this World Cup match.
New Zealand’s key players are Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, and Suzie Bates, while South Africa relies on Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Ayabonga Khaka.
New Zealand has won approximately 52% of their 48 ODI meetings, and they have won four out of six World Cup encounters between these teams.
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