On October 3, 2025, England bowled South Africa out for 69 and chased the target in 14.1 overs without losing a wicket. Twenty-six days later, at the same tournament, South Africa posted 319/7 and won by 125 runs. The England women’s national cricket team vs south africa women’s national cricket team timeline stretches back to 1960- across seven Tests, dozens of ODI series, and four ICC tournaments. England lead the all-time record by a wide margin. Yet South Africa have won 2 of the last 3 ICC knockout meetings between these sides. This article covers the complete year-by-year match archive, head-to-head numbers, records dashboard, and the tactical patterns shaping this contest in the modern era.
Head-to-Head at a Glance
England Women vs South Africa Women- all-format record through October 2025:
| Format | Matches | England Wins | South Africa Wins | Draws / NR |
| Test | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| ODI | 46 (through Oct 2025) | 36 | 10 | 0 |
| T20I | 24 (through Oct 2024) | 19 | 4 | 1 |
| All formats | 77 | 58 | 14 | 5 |
England’s ODI win rate against South Africa: 78%. South Africa won 2 of their last 3 ICC knockout encounters against England despite trailing 58–14 in overall matches.
Complete Timeline: England Women vs South Africa Women (1960–2025)
The England women’s national cricket team vs south africa women’s national cricket team timeline begins in 1960 with a four-match Test series. What followed was a rivalry interrupted by politics, reshaped by isolation, and redefined in the knockout stages of three ICC tournaments.
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Year-by-Year Timeline and Match Archive
| Year | Series / Tournament | Format | Winner | Key Detail |
| 1960/61 | England tour of South Africa | Test (4 matches) | England 1–0 (3 drawn) | First-ever meeting between these sides |
| 1977–1996 | — | — | No matches played | South Africa banned under Gleneagles Agreement |
| 1997 | South Africa in England | ODI | England | South Africa’s first ODI series on return |
| 2003 | South Africa in England | ODI + Test | England | Single Test drawn |
| 2004/05 | England in South Africa | ODI | England 2–0 | England dominant away from home |
| 2008 | ICC Women’s World Cup | ODI | England | ENG 373/5 beat SA 305/9 by 68 runs- 678-run aggregate, Guinness World Record |
| 2009 | ICC Women’s World Cup | ODI | England | England advanced, SA eliminated |
| 2010/11 | England in South Africa | ODI | England | Series win |
| 2011/12 | England in South Africa | T20I | England 2–0 | England’s first T20I series in South Africa |
| 2013 | South Africa in England | ODI | England | England won home series |
| 2014–2016/17 | ICC Women’s Championship | ODI | South Africa 2–1 | Only bilateral ODI series SA have won against England |
| 2017 | ICC Women’s World Cup- Group | ODI | England | 373/5 vs 305/9, ENG won by 68 runs |
| 2017 | ICC Women’s World Cup- Semi-final | ODI | England | Won by 2 wickets- tightest finish in this rivalry |
| 2022 | South Africa in England | Test + ODI + T20I | England | Test drawn, Kapp scored 150, Beaumont, Lamb, Dunkley scored centuries |
| 2023 | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup- Semi-final | T20I | South Africa | Won by 6 runs in Cape Town |
| 2024 | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup- Group | T20I | England | Won by 7 wickets |
| 2024/25 | England in South Africa | T20I | England 3–0 | England swept the series |
| 2024/25 | England in South Africa | ODI | England 2–1 | Charlie Dean hat-trick in Durban |
| 2024/25 | England in South Africa | Test | England | Won by 286 runs, SA dismissed for 64 in 2nd innings |
| 2025 | ICC Women’s World Cup- Group | ODI | England | SA bowled out for 69, England won by 10 wickets in 14.1 overs |
| 2025 | ICC Women’s World Cup- Semi-final | ODI | South Africa | SA 319/7 beat ENG 194 by 125 runs |
Head-to-Head by Format: Detailed Breakdown
Test Match Record
England have never lost a Test against South Africa Women. Of 7 Tests played, England have won 3 and drawn 4. The longest gap in the Test timeline- 19 years between 2003 and 2022- reflects how infrequently women’s Test cricket has been scheduled historically. The most decisive Test in the England women’s national cricket team vs south africa women’s national cricket team timeline came in December 2024 at Bloemfontein, where England won by 286 runs after bowling South Africa out for 64 in their second innings– the lowest Women’s Test second innings total in South Africa’s history.
| Year | Venue | Result |
| 1960/61 | South Africa | England won series 1–0 (3 drawn) |
| 2003 | England | Drawn |
| 2022 | England | Drawn |
| 2024/25 | Bloemfontein | England won by 286 runs |
ODI Record
England lead 36–10 in ODIs, a win rate of 78%. South Africa’s 10 ODI wins against England include their 2014–2016/17 ICC Women’s Championship series victory (2–1)- the only bilateral ODI series South Africa have won against England in the post-1997 era. South Africa’s highest ODI total against England came in the 2025 Women’s World Cup semi-final: 319/7 in 50 overs.
England’s highest ODI total against South Africa: 373/5 in Bristol in 2017.
T20I Record
England lead 19–4 in T20Is. South Africa’s 4 T20I wins came in 2009 (twice), 2014, and 2023 (ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final). The 2023 semi-final win was South Africa’s most significant T20I result against England- a 6-run victory in Cape Town that ended England’s World Cup campaign.
ICC Knockout Record: The Key Battleground
The England women’s national cricket team vs south africa women’s national cricket team timeline takes on a different character in ICC knockout cricket. South Africa have won 2 of the last 3 ICC semi-final meetings against England.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Winner | Margin |
| 2017 | ICC Women’s World Cup | Semi-final | England | 2 wickets |
| 2023 | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup | Semi-final | South Africa | 6 runs |
| 2025 | ICC Women’s World Cup | Semi-final | South Africa | 125 runs |
England won the only ODI World Cup semi-final between these sides in 2017. South Africa won both semi-finals that followed. In ICC group-stage encounters during the same period, England won 3 of 3 group matches.
Records Dashboard
Highest Team Totals (This Fixture)
| Score | Team | Match | Year |
| 373/5 | England | vs South Africa, Bristol, ICC Women’s World Cup | 2017 |
| 319/7 | South Africa | vs England, Guwahati, ICC WC Semi-final | 2025 |
| 305/9 | South Africa | vs England, Bristol, ICC Women’s World Cup | 2017 |
| 395/9 declared | England | Bloemfontein Test, 1st innings | 2024/25 |
| 281 | South Africa | Bloemfontein Test, 1st innings | 2024/25 |
Lowest Team Totals (This Fixture)
| Score | Team | Match | Year |
| 64 all out | South Africa | Bloemfontein Test, 2nd innings | 2024/25 |
| 69 all out | South Africa | ICC Women’s World Cup Group, Guwahati | 2025 |
Notable Partnerships
| Runs | Wicket | Players | Match |
| 275 | 2nd | Tamsin Beaumont (148) and Sarah Taylor (147) | England vs SA, Bristol, 2017 |
| 243 | 1st | Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits | SA vs England, ODI series, December 2023 |
The 675-run combined aggregate in the 2017 Bristol ODI (England 373/5, South Africa 305/9) set a Guinness World Record for the highest aggregate in a Women’s ODI at the time.
Individual Performance Highlights
Bowling Performances in This Fixture
| Figures | Player | Match | Year |
| 5/20 (10 overs) | Marizanne Kapp (SA) | ICC WC Semi-final, Guwahati | 2025 |
| 4/44 (10 overs) | Sophie Ecclestone (ENG) | ICC WC Semi-final, Guwahati | 2025 |
| 3/7 (4 overs) | Linsey Smith (ENG) | ICC WC Group, Guwahati | 2025 |
| 8 wickets in Test | Lauren Bell (ENG) | Bloemfontein Test | 2024/25 |
| 10 wickets in Test (maiden) | Nonkululeko Mlaba (SA) | Bloemfontein Test | 2024/25 |
| Hat-trick in ODI | Charlie Dean (ENG) | Durban, 2nd ODI | 2024/25 |
| 150 (Test) | Marizanne Kapp (SA) | England vs SA, 2022 Test | 2022 |
Batting Performances in This Fixture
| Score | Player | Match | Year |
| 169 off 143 balls | Laura Wolvaardt (SA) | ICC WC Semi-final, Guwahati | 2025 |
| 148 | Tamsin Beaumont (ENG) | ICC Women’s World Cup, Bristol | 2017 |
| 147 | Sarah Taylor (ENG) | ICC Women’s World Cup, Bristol | 2017 |
| 165 | Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG) | Bloemfontein Test | 2024/25 |
Laura Wolvaardt‘s 169 off 143 balls in the 2025 semi-final– which included 17 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 118.18- is the highest individual score by any player in a Women’s World Cup knockout match at the time of this writing.
Tactical Analysis: Three Evidence-Based Patterns
Pattern 1- South Africa Perform When Their Top Order Bats Deep
In the three ICC knockout matches between these sides (2017, 2023, 2025), South Africa won both matches in which a top-order batter scored 60 or more. They lost the one knockout match in which no batter passed 50. Wolvaardt’s 169 was the structural difference in the 2025 semi-final.
Pattern 2- England’s Spin Axis Works in Group Matches, Not Always in Knockouts
Linsey Smith took 3/7 in 4 overs in the 2025 group-stage match- South Africa bowled out for 69. In the semi-final, Sophie Ecclestone bowled 10 overs for 4/44– an economy of 4.4 runs per over, above her tournament average of 3.1. South Africa scored 72 runs off overs 20–28 at 8.0 runs per over while Wolvaardt was building her innings, before Ecclestone returned. The sequencing of England’s bowling changes allowed South Africa to accelerate without disruption in their most productive phase.
Pattern 3- Marizanne Kapp’s Impact Across Formats
Kapp has produced match-defining contributions in 3 separate high-stakes fixtures against England:
- 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup group match: 3/77 (10 overs)- England won
- 2022 Test, Taunton: scored 150 in the first innings- match drawn
- 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final: 5/20 (10 overs)- South Africa won by 125 runs
Kapp’s role as a seam-bowling all-rounder means England cannot load their batting order without also facing her with the ball. No England batter has dismissed or significantly neutralised Kapp for under 20 across these three fixtures.
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Key Players in the England Women vs South Africa Women Rivalry
England
- Nat Sciver-Brunt– 165 runs in the 2024/25 Bloemfontein Test, her most complete innings in this fixture
- Sophie Ecclestone– England’s primary wicket-taker in white-ball formats, 4/44 in the 2025 World Cup semi-final
- Lauren Bell– 8 wickets in the 2024/25 Test, emerging as England’s most reliable seamer in this fixture
- Charlie Dean– Hat-trick in Durban ODI, December 2024, 7 wickets across the 2024/25 ODI series
- Tamsin Beaumont– 148 in the record-breaking 2017 Bristol ODI, part of the 275-run partnership with Taylor
South Africa
- Laura Wolvaardt– 169 in the 2025 semi-final, the highest knockout score against England in Women’s World Cup history
- Marizanne Kapp– 150 in the 2022 Test, 5/20 in the 2025 semi-final, the most dangerous dual-threat player in this fixture
- Tazmin Brits– 68 in the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final, partner in a 243-run ODI opening stand vs England in December 2023
- Nonkululeko Mlaba– 10 wickets in the 2024/25 Test on debut, first Women’s Test ten-wicket haul for South Africa vs England
Why the 1977–1996 Gap Still Matters
The England women’s national cricket team vs South Africa women’s national cricket team timeline includes a 20-year period with zero matches. South Africa were excluded from international cricket following the Gleneagles Agreement in 1977 due to apartheid. They did not return until 1997. While England, Australia, New Zealand, and India were developing coaching systems, international exposure, and women’s cricket infrastructure continuously, South Africa had none of that. Their early ODI losses after 1997 were the direct result of that structural deficit- not a reflection of talent. South Africa’s improvement across every decade since 1997 is measurable. Their win rate in bilateral ODI series against England went from 0 in 1997–2013 to a series win in 2014–16/17. Their ICC knockout results went from group-stage exits to back-to-back semi-final wins in 2023 and 2025.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the all-time head-to-head record between England Women and South Africa Women?
A1. England led 58–14 across all formats through October 2025. In ODIs, England lead 36–10. In T20Is, England lead 19–4. England have won 3 Tests, the remaining 4 are drawn. South Africa have never won a Women’s Test against England.
Q2. When did England Women and South Africa Women first play each other?
A2. Their first meeting was in 1960/61, when South Africa hosted England for a four-match Test series. England won the series 1–0 with three Tests drawn. South Africa did not play England again until 1997 after returning from a 20-year international ban under the Gleneagles Agreement.
Q3. What is the highest ODI total in England Women vs South Africa Women fixtures?
A3. England scored 373/5 in Bristol on July 4, 2017. The combined match aggregate of 678 runs set a Guinness World Record for the highest aggregate in a Women’s ODI at the time. Tamsin Beaumont made 148 and Sarah Taylor made 147, sharing a 275-run second-wicket partnership.
Q4. What happened in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup between England and South Africa?
A4. England beat South Africa by 10 wickets in the group stage on October 3, 2025, bowling them out for 69- their lowest ODI score against England. South Africa then beat England by 125 runs in the semi-final on October 29, 2025, with Laura Wolvaardt scoring 169 off 143 balls and Marizanne Kapp taking 5/20.
Q5. Has South Africa ever beaten England in a Women’s World Cup semi-final?
A5. Yes, twice. South Africa beat England by 6 runs in the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Cape Town, and by 125 runs in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final in Guwahati. England won the only previous ODI World Cup semi-final between the sides in Derby, 2017.
Q6. What were the results of England Women’s 2024/25 tour of South Africa?
A6. England won the T20I series 3–0, the ODI series 2–1, and the Test match by 286 runs. South Africa were bowled out for 64 in their Test second innings- the lowest Women’s Test total in South Africa’s history in this fixture. Lauren Bell took 8 wickets, Charlie Dean took a hat-trick in the 2nd ODI.
Q7. Who holds the highest individual score in England Women vs South Africa Women matches?
A7. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) holds the record with 169 off 143 balls in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final at Guwahati. Her innings included 17 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 118.18. This was the highest score in a Women’s World Cup knockout match at the time.
Q8. Which bowler has the best figures in this fixture?
A8. Marizanne Kapp’s 5/20 in 10 overs in the 2025 Women’s World Cup semi-final is the best bowling performance in a single innings in a high-stakes match in this fixture. In terms of economy, Linsey Smith’s 3/7 in 4 overs in the 2025 group-stage match is the most economical performance.
Q9. Did South Africa ever win the ICC Women’s Championship against England?
A9. Yes. South Africa won the bilateral ICC Women’s Championship series against England 2–1 during the 2014–2016/17 cycle. This remains the only bilateral ODI series South Africa have won against England since their return to international cricket in 1997.
Q10. What is South Africa’s record in ICC knockouts vs England?
A10. South Africa have played 3 ICC knockout matches against England (semi-finals only). South Africa won 2- the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final by 6 runs and the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final by 125 runs. England won 1- the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final by 2 wickets.