South Africa and Ireland Women clash in the opening match of their three-match ODI series on Saturday, December 13th. The match will be played at Buffalo Park in East London and the scheduled start time is 10:00 AM South African time. Stay tuned with our SA W vs IRE W prediction, team previews, pitch report, props and winner prediction ahead of this mega contest.
South Africa Women are coming into this match on the back of a dominant T20I series win against Ireland, where they crushed the visitors by 105 runs and 65 runs in back-to-back matches. Ireland Women, on the other hand, struggled significantly in the shorter format and will be looking to bounce back in the 50-over game. This is a crucial match for both sides as the visitors will want to salvage some pride from the tour while the hosts will want to continue their winning momentum.
Head to Head Record: South Africa and Ireland have faced off in 20 ODI matches till date, where South Africa holds complete dominance with 18 wins, while Ireland managed just 1 win and 1 match was abandoned. South Africa have never lost a bilateral ODI series against Ireland.
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South Africa Women Preview
South Africa Women have been absolutely stunning in the T20I series, winning both matches by massive margins. Captain Laura Wolvaardt was simply unstoppable as she smashed an unbeaten 115 off just 56 balls in the first match, the fastest T20I century by any South African cricketer ever. Her approach showed the kind of form the opener is in right now. Sune Luus supported brilliantly with 81 runs in the first match.
In the second T20I, South Africa posted 201/5 with solid contributions from Faye Tunnicliffe who scored 51 runs. The bowling attack has been equally impressive, with young spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba picking up important wickets in both matches. Mlaba took 2/9 in the first T20I and 1/25 in the second match, showing her ability to take wickets at crucial moments.
South Africa’s squad shows a good mix of experience and youth, with several players coming directly from their excellent World Cup campaign where they reached the final. Most of their star players including Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Nonkululeko Mlaba are in superb form heading into the ODI series. They are ranked 4th in the ICC Women’s ODI Rankings and will be heavy favorites to win this match.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt | Over 45.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Laura Wolvaardt has been in sensational form, scoring 599 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 66.55, including a massive 169 in the World Cup semi-final. She is likely to play another big innings here.
Ireland Women Preview
Ireland Women have struggled badly in the T20I series and face a tough challenge in the ODI format against the mighty Proteas. Captain Gaby Lewis will be looking to lead her team with a strong batting performance. Lewis has been a consistent performer for Ireland and brings leadership and experience to the side. She scored an average of 32.27 runs in 59 ODI matches at a strike rate of 69.11.
Arlene Kelly, the experienced all-rounder, will be the key player with the ball for Ireland. Kelly has taken 40 wickets in 34 ODI matches and is known for picking up important breakthroughs. She was also awarded as ICC Women’s Player of the Month in August 2023 after taking 10 wickets in a T20I series. Her ability to bowl in different stages of the match makes her crucial for Ireland’s chances.
Leah Paul and Orla Prendergast will be important contributors in the middle order. Paul has scored 1,161 runs in 48 ODI matches at a strike rate of 63.75, while Prendergast boasts an average of 32.39 runs from 41 ODI matches with a strong strike rate of 76.08. Ireland, ranked 10th in the ICC Women’s ODI Rankings, will need to play their best cricket to trouble the hosts.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Arlene Kelly | Over 1.5 Wickets | 1.90 |
Arlene Kelly has been in outstanding form, consistently taking key wickets. She is likely to strike early and put pressure on South Africa’s strong batting lineup.
SA W vs IRE W Probable Playing XI
South Africa Women: Faye Tunnicliffe, Sune Luus, Laura Wolvaardt(c), Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta(wk), Nadine de Klerk, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka.
Ireland Women: Gaby Lewis(c), Amy Hunter(wk), Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Ava Canning, Cara Murray, Lara McBride, Aimee Maguire.
SA W vs IRE W Pitch Report
Buffalo Park in East London has a well-balanced pitch that suits both batters and bowlers. The surface offers good bounce and consistent pace, making it helpful for fast bowlers to generate movement and trouble the batters. At the same time, batters who time the ball well can play freely and score runs comfortably. The pitch tends to stay true throughout the game, allowing for fair contests between bat and ball. Overall, it is a friendly ground for both teams, giving equal opportunities to bowlers and batters to make an impact.
The weather on Saturday at Buffalo Park, East London is expected to be partly sunny around 21°C, with a 10% chance of rain, 64% humidity, and strong winds near 32 km/h.
Venue ODI Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 29 |
| Matches won batting first | 16 |
| Matches won bowling first | 12 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 233 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 188 |
| Highest total recorded | 369/6 (50 Ovs) – SA vs BAN |
| Lowest total recorded | 115/10 (43.4 Ovs) – ENG vs SA |
| Highest score chased | 257/5 (47.1 Ovs) – SL vs NZ |
| Lowest score defended | 129/10 (41.4 Ovs) – SA vs ENG |
SA W vs IRE W Winner Prediction
Looking at the overall picture, South Africa Women are the overwhelming favorites to win this match. They have crushed Ireland in the T20I series and their confidence is sky-high right now. Laura Wolvaardt is in the form of her life after an incredible World Cup campaign where she was the leading run-scorer. The South African bowling attack has been equally impressive with players like Nonkululeko Mlaba picking up wickets at crucial moments.
Ireland Women have been outplayed in the T20I series and the gap in quality between the two sides is quite evident. While captain Gaby Lewis and Arlene Kelly will try their best to put up a fight, it will be very difficult to stop the in-form South African team. We expect South Africa Women to win this match comfortably and take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
Our Prediction: South Africa Women
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