South Africa’s Proteas Women defeated the Netherlands by 88 runs at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bristol on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The team was sent to bat first and then posted 208/1 on the board to an unbeaten 114 by Tazmin Brits, the second highest individual score in history.
Only Meg Lanning managed to play better, who scored 126 against Ireland in 2014. In response, the Dutch stuttered to 120/8 and never really threatened South Africa’s total. The victory was the Proteas Women’s third on the bounce since losing to Australia in their tournament opener at Old Trafford. With two more points to the tally, South Africa drew level on points with second-placed India in the Group-1 standings.
Both teams now have six points each from four matches played but the Proteas are placed below India on Net Run Rate. South Africa’s final Group-1 fixture against Bangladesh at Lord’s on Sunday will now decide whether or not the Proteas qualify for the semis. India will play table toppers Australia, who have eight points, on the same day. Only the top two from the group will qualify for the semis.
The Proteas Women got off to a steady start courtesy of captain Laura Wolvaardt and her opening partner Tazmin Brits, who started watchfully before picking up the scoring rate. Brits reached her fifty in just 36 balls and along the way, became only the second South African to score 2000 runs in women’s T20 cricket, joining her skipper and opening partner Wolvaardt in the select club.
This pair brought up the 100-run partnership in the 12th over before Hannah Landheer finally separated them in the 14th, dismissing Wolvaardt five short of what would have been her 17th fifty in T20 internationals. However, it proved to be the only wicket world No. 14 Netherlands got to celebrate on the night as the Proteas Women, ranked fifth, finished with 208/1 in 20 overs.
South Africa’s Proteas Women defeat The Netherlands by 88 runs at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/WVy86jp3ER
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 26, 2026
It was South Africa’s highest score at any Women’s T20 World Cup, eclipsing the 195/3 against Thailand from the 2020 edition. Brits went on to bring up her maiden T20 hundred in 63 balls and eventually stayed unbeaten on 114 off 69 deliveries, becoming only the second South African woman to score a T20 World Cup century.
Lizelle Lee, who slammed 101 against Thailand in Sylhet back in 2020, was the first. Annerie Dercksen also played a handy knock, staying unbeaten on 37 off just 16 deliveries.
Phebe Molkenboer and Sanya Khurana put up a 58-run opening stand for the Dutch before Chloe Tryon sent back the latter. Molkenboer then paired up with Sterre Kalis to take her team to the 100 mark before Shabnim Ismail sent back Kalis to register her 48th scalp in Women’s T20 World Cups. wicket-taker, Molkenboer who top-scored for the Netherlands with a run-a-ball 41, also departed soon after, leaving her team at 110/3 after 17.3 overs.
The Dutch innings unravelled after that as they lost their next five wickets for just 10 runs. Ayabonga Khaka accounted for three of these in the final over, finishing with 3/19.