Sri Lanka Opt to Bat First Against South Africa in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Match 18
Colombo, October 17, 2025 (TheTrendingPeople.com): Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the 18th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.
Sri Lanka Stick with Unchanged XI
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu confirmed that the team will go with the same combination that played against New Zealand in their previous match. “We have decided to bat first. We batted really well against New Zealand in our last game so we have decided to stick to the same process,” Athapaththu said.
She added, “We can't control those things. We stick with our plans. We are training really hard in the nets and hopefully we can execute our plans today. Whoever plays the best cricket on that particular day will come out on top. We have the confidence as we have played good cricket against South Africa in South Africa and Sri Lanka. Hopefully, we give our best today as well.”
The Lankan XI features: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Piumi Badalge, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, and Inoka Ranaweera.
South Africa Make Three Changes
In contrast, South Africa have made three changes to their lineup. Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, and Nondumiso Shangase replace Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta, and Tumi Sekhukhune for this encounter.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said, “Don't mind that too much. We have had success chasing. With rain around, we don't mind batting second. It's important for us to get used to the conditions. It's looking different at this time of the year. Nice wicket to bat on. We have to assess early on with the ball.”
She further added, “It hasn't been our best tournament top-order wise. But we are looking at how to improve going ahead in the tournament. We have got 3 changes. Sune Luus, Shangase and Meso are in. We have just got two off-spinners coming in with a lot of left-handed batters in the Sri Lankan side.”
South Africa’s playing XI is: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Karabo Meso (wk), Chloe Lesleigh Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Key Points Ahead of the Match
- Sri Lanka’s strength: Confidence from previous performances, with Athapaththu leading from the front.
- South Africa’s approach: Adaptability with batting or bowling first, focusing on top-order improvement and leveraging left-handed matchups.
- Pitch conditions: R. Premadasa Stadium offers a balanced wicket for both batters and bowlers; rain could influence the later part of the match.
With both sides looking to consolidate their positions in the tournament, today’s clash promises an intriguing contest of strategy, skill, and execution. Fans can expect a competitive match as Sri Lanka aim to capitalize on batting first, while South Africa look to challenge the hosts with their revamped lineup.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first reflects their confidence in a settled lineup, while South Africa’s three changes show their intent to adapt and strategize for victory. As the ICC Women’s World Cup progresses, this match could prove decisive in determining momentum and tournament positioning for both teams. Fans should expect an engaging contest filled with tactical moves and standout individual performances.