GUWAHATI, India: South Africa stormed into their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final with a thumping 125-run victory over defending champions England in the first semi-final in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt produced one of the finest innings in tournament history, smashing 169 from 143 balls, while Marizanne Kapp delivered a devastating bowling spell of 5-20 to seal a historic win for the Proteas.
Wolvaardt leads South Africa to record total
After being asked to bat first, South Africa posted a formidable 319 for seven in 50 overs — their highest total of the tournament.
Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a masterclass in controlled aggression, accelerating brilliantly in the final 10 overs after reaching her century.
Supported by Marizanne Kapp’s 42 and a quick-fire unbeaten 33 from Chloe Tryon, she helped the Proteas plunder 117 runs in the last 10 overs.
England’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, battling a shoulder injury, was the pick of the bowlers with 4-44, briefly sparking hope when South Africa slipped from 116-0 to 119-3.
But Wolvaardt steadied the innings before launching an onslaught in the closing overs.
England collapse
Chasing a target of 320, England’s hopes of reaching another final evaporated within minutes.
The top three — Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Heather Knight — all fell for ducks, leaving England reeling at 1-3 inside the first two overs.
Kapp struck twice in her opening over, removing Jones and Knight, while Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Beaumont to compound England’s misery.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) offered resistance with a century stand, but the pressure of the chase proved too much.
Once Capsey was dismissed, Kapp returned to claim the key wicket of Sciver-Brunt and ran through the lower order, bowling England out for 194 in 42.3 overs.
Player of the Match Wolvaardt said the victory was “a dream come true”.
“It still feels a bit unreal. Scoring a hundred in a World Cup knockout game is the kind of thing you dream about as a kid,” she told reporters. “We knew the start of our innings would be crucial, and once we got going, it just flowed.”
Her innings, marked by flawless timing and late acceleration, will go down as one of the great World Cup knocks.
Historic moment for South Africa
This was South Africa’s fourth semi-final appearance across formats but their first victory at this stage. The Proteas had previously fallen short in both ODI and T20 World Cup semi-finals.
They will now face either India or Australia in the final on Sunday, as those two teams meet in the second semi-final in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Match Summary
South Africa 319-7 (50 overs) – Wolvaardt 169 (143), Kapp 42; Ecclestone 4-44
England 194 (42.3 overs) – Sciver-Brunt 64 (76), Capsey 50 (68); Kapp 5-20, Khaka 2-35
Result: South Africa won by 125 runs
