Colombo – 9 May 2025
South Africa’s Women’s cricket team bowed out of the 2025 ODI Tri-Nation Series with a statement performance, securing a convincing 76-run win over hosts Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. While the result could not change their fate in the tournament—having already lost their first two matches—the Proteas salvaged pride in their final outing, powered by a career-best all-round performance from Chloe Tryon and a composed century from Annerie Dercksen.
The tri-series, which also features India, will conclude on Sunday with a final between the two subcontinental rivals. For South Africa, Friday’s clash was all about restoring confidence and finding rhythm after a tough run of form. They did exactly that.
A Record Stand Under Pressure
Opting to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss, South Africa found themselves in familiar trouble, slumping to 85/5 inside 20 overs. The early dismissal of top-order batters threatened to derail the innings yet again. But it was in this moment of crisis that Dercksen stepped up with a brilliant century—her 104 came off just 84 balls and included 9 fours and 5 sixes. She was calm under pressure, rebuilding with Nondumiso Shangase first and then accelerating alongside Chloe Tryon in a game-changing 112-run partnership off just 88 balls.
Tryon, batting at No. 8, delivered an explosive 74 off 51 balls, smashing 4 fours and 5 sixes to breathe life into a sagging innings. Together with Nadine de Klerk (32 off 19), the pair added 76 runs in the final 38 balls to push South Africa to an imposing 315/9 from their 50 overs.
Sri Lanka’s Dewmi Vihanga was the pick of the bowlers, registering career-best figures of 5/43, but she lacked support from her teammates during the critical middle and death overs.
Tryon’s Hat-Trick Headlines Bowling Brilliance
If Tryon’s fireworks with the bat weren’t enough, she came back with the ball to dismantle the Sri Lankan chase. Her 5/34 in 8 overs included a spectacular hat-trick, removing Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, and Malki Madara in successive deliveries to all but seal the match for South Africa.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan batters had shown promise. Hasini Perera (30), Harshitha Samarawickrama (33), and captain Chamari Athapaththu (52) built partnerships, but their inability to convert starts into substantial innings proved costly. Anushka Sanjeewani’s lively 43 gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, but wickets fell too frequently to sustain the chase. Ayabonga Khaka also chipped in with key breakthroughs, including the dismissals of Athapaththu and Nilakshika Silva.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 239 in 42.5 overs.
Finishing on a High Despite Early Woes
For a team that struggled in both earlier matches of the series and came into this game with zero points, the final win was a welcome relief. The South Africans had faced difficulties adjusting to Colombo’s heat and humid conditions, and their poor form in the opening matches saw them eliminated before this fixture. But their resilience showed through in the final outing.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Tryon after the match, summing up the sentiment of the day.
Dercksen, reflecting on her century, shared a grounded perspective: “It was about taking it as deep as possible for the team. Then I looked up and saw I was close to a hundred, and it just happened.”
Looking Ahead
While the Proteas will return home out of the tournament, they will take heart from this performance, especially the form of their middle and lower order. With South Africa set to host international fixtures in the coming months, Friday’s match provided important building blocks for the future.
As for Sri Lanka, the defeat is a sobering reminder ahead of their showdown with India on Sunday. For now, South Africa leaves the tri-series with a consolation win—but also with a clear message: they’re down, but certainly not out.
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