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- ENG vs SA Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025 1st Semi Final: Laura Wolvaardt century, Marizanne Kapp fifer power South Africa to 125-run win; reach first-ever ODI World Cup final
ENG vs SA Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025 1st Semi Final: Laura Wolvaardt century, Marizanne Kapp fifer power South Africa to 125-run win; reach first-ever ODI World Cup final
Wolvaardt played one of the most remarkable innings of her career, scoring 169 off 143 balls to carry South Africa to a formidable total of 319/7. Her knock, marked by 17 fours and three sixes, was a blend of patience and precision as she handled England’s attack with authority. Partnering Tazmin Brits (45) and later Kapp (42), she ensured South Africa recovered from Sophie Ecclestone’s double strike in the 22nd over that briefly halted momentum.
Wolvaardt’s acceleration in the final stages, supported by Chloe Tryon’s unbeaten 33, pushed the Proteas well past 300. During her innings, she crossed both 150 runs and the 5000-run milestone in ODIs, reaffirming her stature as one of the game’s premier batters.
England’s chase never truly found rhythm after Kapp dismantled their top order early. The right-arm seamer removed Amy Jones and Heather Knight in her first spell before returning to claim the crucial wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt (64), ending any hopes of a comeback. Alice Capsey’s 50 was the only other major contribution in England’s 194 all out.
“This probably has to be right at the top considering the context, a World Cup semi-final,” Wolvaardt said after being named Player of the Match.
For South Africa, the result marks a new chapter in their cricketing journey. After falling short in two T20 World Cup finals, they now advance to their first-ever ODI final, where they will face the winner of Thursday’s India–Australia semifinal in Navi Mumbai.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller on middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt rolls this to short mid-wicket for no run.
Linsey Smith to Marizanne Kapp, Quicker and flatter around off, Marizanne Kapp backs away and cuts this through point for one.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Fired onto the pads, Laura Wolvaardt tickles this to short fine leg for one.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Quicker one, into the batter. Laura Wolvaardt blocks this out.
- Laura Wolvaardt 68 (80)
- Marizanne Kapp 5 (2)
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this to sweeper cover for one.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Marizanne Kapp, Good length around off, Marizanne Kapp dabs this to deep third for one.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Marizanne Kapp, FOUR! Pitched up from Nat Sciver-Brunt, around off, Marizanne Kapp leans onto it and drives this all along the ground through the extra cover region for a boundary.
Marizanne Kapp is in next.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Sune Luus, OUT! CHOPPED ON! From 116 for 0 to 119 for 3, South Africa Women are in the middle of a collapse. Back of a length wide of off, Sune Luus looks to pull this off her back foot, but plays this away from her body. Gets it edged off the inside back onto the stumps. The timber gets rattled behind Luus, and South Africa Women are in a situation of bother from a commanding position.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Sune Luus, A good stroke for nothing. On a length around middle and off, Sune Luus nails the straight drive but hits this a bit too straight as she hits the woodwork on the other end.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Sune Luus, Good length around off, Sune Luus blocks this off her front foot.
- Laura Wolvaardt 67 (79)
- Sune Luus 1 (3)
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller around off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this to cover.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Almost through the gate of Laura Wolvaardt but the African skipper manages an inside edge that keeps the ball away from the stumps. Pushed through on off, Laura Wolvaardt presses in front and looks to punch this through cover but the ball skids on and almost beats the batter but Laura ends up keeping it out.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Floated around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this to cover for no run.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Fired onto the pads, Laura Wolvaardt tucks this to square leg for no run.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Under-cutter, on off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this off her back foot.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Flighted around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this to extra cover.
- Laura Wolvaardt 67 (73)
- Sune Luus 1 (3)
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, On a length around middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this towards the right of mid off for a single.
Lauren Bell to Sune Luus, Back of a length around off, Sune Luus dabs this towards the left of backward point and takes one. A bit of yes-no between Luus and Laura but they end up taking one with ease at the end.
Lauren Bell to Sune Luus, Good length on off, Sune Luus blocks this around cover.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Back of a length on middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt flicks this through mid-wicket for one.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Bell hits the hard length wide of off, Laura cuts this to point for no run.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length around off, Laura Wolvaardt gets right behind it and blocks this out.
- Sune Luus 0 (1)
- Laura Wolvaardt 65 (69)
Sophie Ecclestone to Sune Luus, Fuller on middle and off, Sune Luus blocks this out.
Sune Luus walks out to the centre.
Sophie Ecclestone to Anneke Bosch, OUT! TIMBER! One brings two for England Women. A quicker one, right at the base of the off-pole, Anneke Bosch misreads the length and jumps down the track. Sophie Ecclestone bowls it a tad quicker and that's enough to beat the batter. Anneke Bosch gets beaten and the ball goes on to rattle the timber. South Africa Women are 2 down for 116.
Sophie Ecclestone to Anneke Bosch, Fired into the batter, Anneke Bosch blocks it out.
Sophie Ecclestone to Anneke Bosch, Quicker one, on the pads, Anneke Bosch goes for the flick but misses out and gets hit on her front pad.
Anneke Bosch is in at number 3.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Tazmin Brits has not looked at ease while playing the reverse sweep all along but she somehow sticks to go with another attempt at reverse sweeping one and pays the price this time. Tossed up, in the line of the stumps, Tazmin Brits goes for the reverse sweep but gets a bottom edge back onto the stumps.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Slider around off, Laura Wolvaardt rocks back and pushes this through cover for one.
- Tazmin Brits 45 (64)
- Laura Wolvaardt 64 (68)
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Just 4 from the over. Slower one, on off. Tazmin Brits drills this to mid off for no run.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, On a length around off, Tazmin Brits punches this back to the bowler.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Brits is starting to motor along as well. On a length around middle and off, Tazmin Brits stays leg side to it and smashes this past the right of the bowler for a boundary down to the long on region.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Short-pitched, again, wide of off. Tazmin Brits mistimes the pull to mid-wicket.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Short and wide outside off, Tazmin Brits leaves it all alone. Brits could have gone for a cut over point.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Back of a length around off, Tazmin Brits blocks this out.
- Laura Wolvaardt 64 (68)
- Tazmin Brits 41 (58)
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Sophie Ecclestone has darted in a yorker on middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this out.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Darted onto the pads, Laura Wolvaardt tucks this to short fine leg for no run.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Fuller on middle and leg, Tazmin Brits drives this down the ground to long on for one.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, SIX! GIGANTIC! Tossed up wide of off, Tazmin Brits charges down the track and smashes this up and over the fence towards long on for a massive six. A fielder was standing at long on but Brits decided to take her on and cleared her with ease.
A soft blow on the helmet for Tazmin Brits. The physio is out for the concussion check.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Fuller, wide outside off, Tazmin Brits steps a long way across and looks to sweep it but misses out and is hit on her front pad before the ball deflects onto the helmet.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up around off, Laura Wolvaardt punches this to sweeper cover for one.
- Tazmin Brits 34 (55)
- Laura Wolvaardt 63 (65)
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, On a short of a length, on off, Brits rides the bounce and punches it to cover. A tidy start to her second spell for Bell.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, A well-disguised leg cutter, near the tramline on off, on the fuller side. Tazmin Brits advances down the track but fails to pick the slower one. Swings early and connects with thin air.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Bell spots Brits take a step down the track and she adjusts by going into the surface, outside off. Tazmin ducks under it.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, On a good length, outside off, Wolvaardt extends her hands and glides it to backward point, where a fumble from Charlie Dean allows a single.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Wide! Bell goes short, over off but this sails over Laura's head as she sways away from the line.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Attacking the stumps, on a length, Wolvaardt smears it off the inner half to mid-wicket.
The opener shared crucial stands with Tazmin Brits (45) and Kapp (42) to steady the innings despite Sophie Ecclestone’s four-wicket spell. Her knock, filled with 17 boundaries and three sixes, saw South Africa recover from mini-collapses and accelerate in the final overs alongside Chloe Tryon (33*).
England, chasing a record target, faltered early as Kapp struck twice in her opening spell to remove Amy Jones and Heather Knight. Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) briefly revived hopes with a 107-run partnership before Kapp’s return ended the resistance. England were eventually dismissed for 194 in 42.3 overs.
“It still feels a bit unreal,” Wolvaardt said after being named Player of the Match. “You dream as a kid of scoring a hundred in a World Cup knock-out game.”
The win, which followed South Africa’s earlier struggles against the same opponent in the league stage, marked a breakthrough moment for the Proteas. Having reached two T20 World Cup finals previously without success, they now advance to their first-ever ODI final, where they await the winner of the India–Australia semifinal in Navi Mumbai.
Match Statistics
Venue
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
