π π«ππ ππ«πππ’πππ’π¨π§π¬ π¨π§ πππ₯ππ π«ππ¦ ππ
England (w)
South Africa (w)
The ICC Womenβs ODI World Cup 2025 is picking up pace, and the spotlight now shifts to Guwahati, where England Women will take on South Africa Women under the lights at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium. This clash marks the fourth match of the tournament and promises to be an intriguing contest between two sides with very different head-to-head records.
England come into this fixture with history firmly on their side, having won 17 of their 24 meetings against South Africa. The recent trend also favours them, with four wins in their last five encounters against the Proteas. South Africa, however, will be determined to flip the script and prove they can go toe-to-toe with one of the most dominant teams in womenβs cricket.
With conditions in Guwahati likely to test both batters and bowlers under lights, this match could set the tone for how these two teams fare in the rest of the tournament. England will look to assert their dominance early, while South Africa will be eager to deliver a statement performance on one of the biggest stages in the game.
Amy Jones is expected to score the most runs for England; she has been in red-hot form.
The betting tip is...
Top Batter (England) - Amy Jones
57 %
43 %
England (w)South Africa (w)England Women will open their World Cup campaign with plenty of confidence, despite a narrow defeat to India in their last ODI outing. Coming into this clash with three wins in their last five matches and back-to-back victories over South Africa, the English side are seen as favourites to start strong in Guwahati.
Amy Jones will be the key figure in the batting department. The wicketkeeper-batter has been in sublime form, amassing 459 runs in her last ten ODIs at an impressive average of 76.5 and a strike rate close to 95. Nat Sciver-Brunt adds further strength in the middle order, contributing 396 runs in her last ten games with both consistency and power.
With the ball, Sophie Ecclestone remains Englandβs main weapon. The left-arm spinner has taken 14 wickets in her previous seven matches, often breaking partnerships at crucial moments. Linsey Smith, with 10 wickets in just her last four appearances, will also provide an attacking option in the bowling attack.
Together, this combination of batting firepower and bowling depth makes England a formidable unit heading into their tournament opener.
Predicted Lineup: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell.
South Africa Women begin their World Cup journey looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against Pakistan, where they were bundled out for just 115 runs. That result broke a four-match winning streak, and they will be eager to rediscover their rhythm when facing a strong England outfit in Guwahati.
Despite not being labelled among the outright favourites, South Africa remain a dangerous side with proven match-winners in their ranks. At the top of the order, Tazmin Brits has been in sensational form, scoring 643 runs in her last nine ODIs at an extraordinary average of 91.86 and a strike rate above 94. She will be key to laying the platform, while captain Laura Wolvaardt provides stability with 348 runs across her last nine games.
On the bowling front, Nonkululeko Mlaba leads the charge with 15 wickets in her last eight outings, consistently applying pressure in the middle overs. Nadine de Klerk adds further potency, having taken 10 wickets in her previous eight matches.
With a balanced mix of batting firepower and bowling variety, South Africa will be keen to make a statement in their opening fixture.
Predicted Lineup: Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (c), Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nondumiso Shangase, Karabo Meso (wk), Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune.
England Women look the stronger side on paper with their batting depth and in-form bowlers, and their dominant record against South Africa gives them the edge.
However, if Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt fire at the top, South Africa could push this into a tight contest. England still remains favourites to clinch this one under lights in Guwahati.
