SA-W vs IRE-W 1st T20I Match Preview:

The first T20I match between South Africa Women and Ireland Women is scheduled to take place today at Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. This is the first international assignment for the South African women after the World Cup. Despite losing their recent T20I series against the West Indies Women, they will be looking to dominate Ireland.

On the other hand, Ireland enters this series with confidence after winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division 1 Qualifier. Led by captain Gaby Lewis, the Irish side is expected to showcase a terrific run of form.

Recent Performance:

SA-W vs IRE-W 1st T20I Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: Ireland Women's Tour of South Africa, 2025
• Match: SA-W vs IRE-W Match 1st T20I
• Date: 5 Dec. 2025
• Match Start Time: 5:30 PM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa 
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: YouTube channel of Cricket South Africa

SA-W vs IRE-W Head-to-Head Stats:

(Last 10 Matches)

Pitch & Weather Report:

The sky will mostly remain cloudy, with a 10% chance of rain. The temperature is likely to reach around  21.5°C. Based on previous games, the average score at this venue ranges between 116 and 123 runs. The pitch offers good assistance to Pace, suggesting a low-scoring encounter

Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa Stats: 

Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, is among the most iconic cricketing landmarks, and the pitch favours the bowler. Winning the toss and opting to bat first will be a wise decision on this surface.      

SA-W vs IRE-W 1st T20I Playing 11

South Africa Women (SA-W) Probable 11:  Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Karabo Meso (wicketkeeper), Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Derckson, Chloe Tryon, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas

Ireland Women (IRE-W) Probable 11: Gaby Lewis (captain), Christina Coulter Reilly (wicketkeeper), Orla Prendergast, Amy Hunter, Leah Paul, Ava Canning, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Jane Maguire, Alana Dalzell, Aimee Maguire

SA-W vs IRE-W- Top Picks from South Africa Women

SA-W vs IRE-W- Top Picks from South Africa Women

Cricket Winner Player’s Insight:

• Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) had scored 122 runs in the last three matches. She can dominate with her batting across different match situations. 
• Nadine de Klerk (SA-W) has been a consistent performer and one of the most vital cogs in the South Africa Women's squad. 
• Gaby Lewis (IRE-W) is an inform batter for IRE-W. She had scored 164 runs in the last three T20I matches
• Orla Prendergast (IRE-W) could prove to be a game-changer for the IRE-W side in this match. 

SA-W vs IRE-W Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

SA-W vs IRE-W Fantasy Team Suggestion:  

SA-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

SA-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

SA-W is likely to win this match. In head-to-head matches, the South Africa Women's team has dominated the Ireland Women. Additionally, they have the advantage of playing on their home ground.

SA-W vs IRE-W 1st T20I FAQ

Who is likely to win the SA-W vs IRE-W match today?

South Africa Women (SA-W) is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?    

South Africa Women is ahead (8-2).

Who are the top fantasy picks for the SA-W vs IRE-W Dream11 team?

Laura Wolvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Gaby Lewis, Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter

What is the pitch report for this match?

The surface is flat and excellent for batters, and we can expect an average score range between 140 and 150 runs.

The race to gain qualification to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifier has begun, with both Ireland and the Netherlands qualifying from the Europe region. The Netherlands qualified in style with a 65-run win over Germany, and they join Ireland as the two European countries that qualified for the next stage of the event. 

Ireland made their mark in the European Qualifier, having won their first five matches in a row, which ensured they finished top. The Dutch kept their focus in a must-win match against Germany, knowing that a win would finish them in the top two, regardless of what happened in Italy's final game against Ireland. The performance showed how the women's game is growing in the Netherlands, and it is encouraging to see it consistently progressing.

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European Teams Eye World Cup Berths After Qualifier Success

With these outcomes, Ireland and the Netherlands will now compete in the Global Qualifier, where a total of 10 teams will compete for 4 spots at the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in England in 2026. Hey, now join Scotland and Bangladesh, who have already secured direct qualification for the qualifier as a result of being there in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Other areas have also contributed a number of teams to the whole. The USA qualified from the Americas in March 2025, and Bhutan and Thailand qualified from the Asia Qualifier in May.  The final three spots will come in upcoming regional tournaments in Africa and East Asia Pacific, and set the scene for a mix of teams for a competitive tournament. 

The Global Qualifier is going to be an incredible tournament, with some established teams, as well as countries aspiring for a chance on the world stage. For Ireland and the Netherlands, getting to this point signifies their regional prowess and gives them a great opportunity to challenge themselves against stronger international opponents.

As anticipation builds from all parts of Europe, I know that European cricket fans will be paying attention to their teams' preparations and wishing these two teams further historical achievements to qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

After winning the three-match home Women's T20I series by 3-0, Ireland Women completed another clean sweep of Zimbabwe Women in the two-match home Women's ODI series (2-0) after winning the last game of the series by four wickets on Monday (July 28).

Zimbabwe Women were targeting to only level the away Women's ODI series on Monday, when they chose to bat first after winning the toss at Belfast. After the Lady Chevrons were bowled out for 178 runs in 49.1 overs, the hosts chased down the target in 38.5 overs after losing six wickets. In the opening game of the series, the hosts won by 97 runs after scoring 288/9. 

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Ireland Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 2nd Women's ODI: Irish bowlers were very disciplined

In the second WODI on Monday, Zimbabwe Women had a poor start as the visitors were struggling at 54/4. Only the captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa managed to cross the 15-run mark in that innings, along with 31 extras (including 23 wides). While the skipper scored 56 off 92 balls with six fours, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 45 off 86 balls with two fours. Their fifth-wicket partnership of 94 runs was the only shining point for the visitors in that innings. Lady Chevrons lost their last four wickets for only 12 runs. 

Eight Iris bowlers were used in the WODI series finale, where Alana Dalzell (4/36) and Lara McBride (3/22) picked up multiple wickets in that innings. 

Irish skipper and Orla Prendergast denied any shocker

Chasing down the target, the hosts were losing at regular intervals, but the opener and captain Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast played solid innings to secure the series victory. While Lewis scored 44 off 59 balls with six fours, the Player of the Match Prendergast was not out for 67 runs in 72 balls, where she hit seven fours. Prendergast also won the Player of the Series award for recording 117 runs and two wickets in this two-match Women's ODI series. 

Among the Lady Chevrons, Loreen Tshuma fought hard in her ten-over quota along with the wicket-taking new-ball bowlers, but those weren't enough for the visitors to claim a stunning win. Tshuma ended the game with the bowling figures of 10-1-35-4. 

Cricket Ireland has announced its central contract list for 2025 annually, which includes 48 male and female cricketers. The announcement comes ahead of the women’s T20I series against Zimbabwe and the England men's T20I series. The two most prominent names included in the list are Matthew Humphreys and Sarah Forbes, as both are given full-time contracts after an impressive performance.

Humphreys, who was earlier under a retainer contract, impressed in Ireland's historic Test against Zimbabwe and is now upgraded to the full-time squad. Sarah Forbes' excellent work during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier campaign ensured that she is now included in Ireland's list of the best centrally contracted female cricketers.

Cricket Ireland's central contract format has changed to provide flexibility with various categories like full-time, part-year, educational, and casual contracts based on the individual player's situation. The system also provides for the non-contracted player to be given short-term contracts during the course of the year in accordance with team needs.

Graeme West, Director of High Performance for Cricket Ireland, emphasized the importance of the central contracts in fostering talent across the board. “They allow the players the time and opportunity to access specialist coaching, as well as healthcare and lifestyle support services, which create a more holistic approach to player development. Cricket Ireland’s investment in these contracts helps the growth of our sport through ensuring we are competitive and visible on the world stage—and also through creating role models and heroes to inspire a new generation to enter the sport,” he said.

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Centrally-Contracted Players (2025)

Full-time contracts:

• Men: Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
  
• Women: Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent
  

Part-year contracts:

Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Foster, Liam McCarthy, Morgan Topping

Educational contracts:

Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Louise Little, Joanna Loughran, Aimee Maguire, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector

Casual contracts:

Abbi Harrison, Kia McCartney, Jenni Jackson, Lara McBride, Ellie McGee