Table of Contents
The Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women Cricket Timeline covers nearly three decades of international cricket, featuring memorable ODI and T20I contests, major tournament meetings and important bilateral series. The rivalry began in the late 1990s and has developed through several generations of players, with South Africa generally holding the stronger overall record while Pakistan have produced important victories of their own. One of the most notable moments came in 2023, when Pakistan Women completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep in Karachi. The rivalry continued into 2026, with the teams meeting in three T20Is and three ODIs during South Africa’s home series.
The Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women timeline covers nearly three decades of international cricket, featuring memorable ODI and T20I contests, major tournament meetings and important bilateral series. The rivalry began in the late 1990s and has developed through several generations of players, with South Africa generally holding the stronger overall record while Pakistan have produced important victories of their own. One of the most notable moments came in 2023, when Pakistan Women completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep in Karachi. The rivalry continued into 2026, with the teams meeting in three T20Is and three ODIs during South Africa’s home series.
Rivalry Overview
The rivalry between the Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team and the South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team has developed steadily since their first official ODI meeting in January 2007. South Africa won that opening encounter in Pretoria by 98 runs, setting the early tone for the contest.
Over the years, the teams have met across ODIs and T20Is, with South Africa generally holding the stronger overall record. However, Pakistan have produced several important victories, including their historic first ODI win in South Africa in 2019 and a landmark 3-0 T20I series sweep in 2023.
The rivalry has become particularly competitive in recent years as Pakistan have developed a stronger batting and bowling unit, while South Africa have remained one of the leading teams in women’s international cricket.
First Official Match
The first official meeting between the sides came on 20 January 2007 at Laudium Oval in Pretoria during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa.
South Africa Women scored 225/7, while Pakistan Women finished on 127/8 from 50 overs. South Africa won by 98 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
That match marked the beginning of a rivalry that has since expanded into multiple formats and major ICC tournaments.
Timeline of Major Matches
| Year | Format | Major Moment |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ODI | South Africa won the first official meeting by 98 runs |
| 2019 | ODI | Pakistan recorded their first ODI victory in South Africa |
| 2023 | T20I | Pakistan completed their first 3-0 T20I series sweep against South Africa |
| 2023 | ODI | South Africa and Pakistan continued their bilateral rivalry in Karachi |
| 2025 | ODI | The teams met again during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup |
| 2026 | T20I | South Africa defeated Pakistan by two wickets at the Women’s T20 World Cup |
| 2026 | T20I | Pakistan won the third T20I in Kimberley by 53 runs |
| 2026 | ODI | South Africa won the opening ODI in Bloemfontein by 37 runs |
The 2026 bilateral tour was particularly notable because the teams played three T20Is and three ODIs in South Africa.
Historic Test Matches
There is an important distinction when discussing the Test history of these teams: Pakistan Women and South Africa Women have not established a Test-match rivalry.
Their rivalry has primarily been built through ODIs and T20Is. Consequently, there are no historic Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women Test matches to place on the timeline.
This is different from the wider history of women’s Test cricket, which began with England Women vs Australia Women in 1934.
Memorable Rivalry Moments
Pakistan’s Historic 2019 Victory
One of the biggest moments in the rivalry came in May 2019 when Pakistan defeated South Africa by eight wickets in Potchefstroom.
Pakistan chased only 64 and reached the target in just 14.4 overs, leaving 212 balls unused. Sana Mir was the star with the ball, taking 4/11. It was Pakistan’s first ODI victory in South Africa and their biggest ODI win by balls remaining at that point.
Pakistan’s 2023 T20I Sweep
Pakistan created another major milestone in September 2023 by winning all three T20Is against South Africa.
The third match ended with a six-run Pakistan victory, completing the team’s first-ever T20I series sweep over South Africa. Nida Dar, Sidra Ameen and Bismah Maroof made important contributions with the bat, while Sadia Iqbal played a key role in the closing stages.
South Africa’s 2026 World Cup Escape
At the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa survived a major scare against Pakistan at Edgbaston.
Pakistan scored 126/9, led by captain Fatima Sana’s excellent 55. South Africa eventually reached 127/8 in 16.5 overs, winning by two wickets. Annerie Dercksen’s 52 and Nadine de Klerk’s 37 proved decisive.
Greatest Individual Performances
Several players have produced defining performances in this rivalry.
| Player | Team | Performance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sana Mir | Pakistan | 4/11 | Match-winning spell in 2019 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 72 | Major contribution in 2023 T20I series finale |
| Nida Dar | Pakistan | 36 | Important contribution in 2023 T20I sweep |
| Sune Luus | South Africa | 93* | Match-winning ODI innings in 2026 |
| Fatima Sana | Pakistan | 55 | Fighting innings at 2026 T20 World Cup |
| Annerie Dercksen | South Africa | 52 | Match-winning contribution at 2026 World Cup |
The 2023 T20I series was especially notable for Laura Wolvaardt, who finished with 157 runs at an average of 52.33 and was named Player of the Series despite Pakistan’s 3-0 sweep.
Record-Breaking Matches
The rivalry has produced several significant statistical landmarks.
Pakistan’s fastest ODI chase against South Africa: In 2019, Pakistan chased 64 in only 14.4 overs, winning by eight wickets with 35.2 overs still unused.
Pakistan’s first T20I series sweep: The 3-0 victory in 2023 represented Pakistan’s first series sweep against South Africa in the format.
A major 2026 T20I comeback: Pakistan won the third T20I in Kimberley by 53 runs, after South Africa had won the opening two matches.
2026 ODI opening-match milestone: South Africa posted 260/6 in 41 overs in the rain-shortened first ODI, with Sune Luus scoring an unbeaten 93. Pakistan responded with 223, giving South Africa a 37-run victory.
Recent Encounters
The rivalry remained active throughout 2025 and 2026, with the sides meeting in major international competitions as well as bilateral cricket.
In February 2026, South Africa hosted Pakistan for three T20Is and three ODIs. South Africa won the first T20I by five wickets, while Pakistan responded strongly by winning the third T20I by 53 runs.
In the ODI series, South Africa won the first match by 37 runs and the second by 16 runs. Sune Luus made an unbeaten 93 in the first ODI, while Tazmin Brits scored 77 in the second.
The most recent major meeting was at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets in a tense Group 1 contest.
Overall, the timeline shows a rivalry that has evolved from South African dominance in the early years into a much more competitive contest, with Pakistan producing landmark wins and South Africa continuing to hold the advantage in several major encounters.
Final Thoughts
The Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women timeline shows how the rivalry has evolved from occasional ODI meetings into regular competition across T20Is and ODIs. South Africa have enjoyed greater overall success, but Pakistan’s 2023 T20I sweep remains one of the standout achievements in the fixture’s history. The 2026 tour added six more matches to a rivalry that continues to produce important performances and memorable contests. With both teams developing new players and competing regularly on the international stage, future meetings should provide plenty of opportunities for this rivalry to grow further.
FAQs
1. When did Pakistan Women first play South Africa Women?
Pakistan Women and South Africa Women first met in women’s ODI cricket in 1997.
2. Which team has been more successful overall?
South Africa Women have generally had the stronger overall record against Pakistan Women across their international meetings.
3. When did Pakistan Women win a T20I series against South Africa?
Pakistan Women won their first T20I series against South Africa in 2023, completing a 3-0 sweep in Karachi.
4. How many matches did Pakistan and South Africa play on the 2026 tour?
The teams played six matches during the 2025/26 South Africa tour: three T20Is and three ODIs.
5. Why is the Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women rivalry important?
The rivalry provides both teams with valuable international competition across formats and has produced several significant matches, including the 2019 tied ODI and Pakistan’s historic 2023 T20I series sweep.