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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.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Pitched up, on off, Laura Wolvaardt presses forward and firms the drive but picks out the cover fielder.
- Tazmin Brits 34 (52)
- Laura Wolvaardt 62 (62)
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Nicely done! Sophie Ecclestone loops it up, full and around off. Tazmin Brits takes a step across the stumps and takes the ball on the full. Paddles it fine of short fine leg for a boundary.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Drifting in on the off pole, Laura drives this full ball to long off for one.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Slower and shorter, outside off. Laura Wolvaardt waits for the ball to arrive and guides it to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Full and on off, knocked to cover by Wolvaardt.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Lands it full again, on off, Brits steps out, looking to launch it down the ground but mistimes the lofted hit to long off for a single.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Full and a bit of air given, on off, Tazmin pushes it off the front foot towards cover, where Heather Knight puts in a dive to her right to prevent the single.
DRINKS! South Africa Women have gotten off to a flying start, with Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits showcasing their aggressive batting style. They've clearly studied England's bowlers, particularly Linsey Smith, and have come prepared to take them on. By executing their plan effectively, they've managed to dictate the terms and not allow the England bowlers to get on top. This approach has put England under pressure. If South Africa can maintain this momentum, they could post a formidable total and set England a stiff target to chase. Laura Wolvaardt has indeed been timing the ball beautifully, but Tazmin Brits hasn't quite found her rhythm yet.
- Laura Wolvaardt 59 (59)
- Tazmin Brits 29 (49)
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller and on off, Laura Wolvaardt is watchful in defence.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, This is pushed through, around the off pole. Laura Wolvaardt advances early and then adjusts to the length by playing it back to the bowler.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, On a nagging length, around off, Wolvaardt taps it to cover.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt punches it back to the bowler.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Wolvaardt! This is wider on off and the length stays full. Laura does not try to overhit this one and just eases herself into the drive. Beats cover to her left and picks up four more.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Hammered! Tossed up by Dean, full and outside off. Laura Wolvaardt dances down the track and stays leg side of the ball. Thumps it back towards the bowler and the ball flies past the outstretched left hand of Charlie before racing away.
- Tazmin Brits 29 (49)
- Laura Wolvaardt 51 (53)
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Slows it down and pulls the length back, on middle. Tazmin Brits reaches out in front for the reverse sweep but mistimes it towards point.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Direct hit! Drifting in from around the wicket, full and on middle. Laura Wolvaardt presses forward for the block. Ekes out an inside edge that rolls in front of short fine leg. Brits calls Wolvaardt through for a quick single and plonks her bat inside the crease at the batting end. There is a direct hit at that end but Tazmin is safe.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Very full, at the toes, Brits drives it to long on for a run.
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Full and on the pads, swept straight to short fine leg.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, FIFTY FOR WOLVAARDT! South Africa's captain has led from the front so far and she will be eager to turn this into a three-figure score. The length is pulled back by Sophie, on off, Laura gets on top of the bounce and punches it past cover for a single. 4th fifty of this World Cup for Wolvaardt.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up, on off, Laura Wolvaardt drives well but can't get it past short cover.
- Laura Wolvaardt 49 (50)
- Tazmin Brits 28 (46)
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Shorter and on middle, Wolvaardt goes deep in the crease and nudges it to deep square leg for one.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Floated up, on off, Laura Wolvaardt steps out before defending it with a straight bat.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Flat and a bit short, on off, punched to cover.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Tossed up, on middle, Tazmin Brits skips down the track and hits it on the bounce to long on. They cross.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Full and on the pads, Tazmin Brits attempts the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Angled into the right-hander, full and on middle. Tazmin Brits dabs it down.
- Laura Wolvaardt 48 (47)
- Tazmin Brits 27 (43)
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, First real sign of turn so far in the game! At 78.5 kph, on a nagging length, around off. Laura Wolvaardt lunges to drive it away but she is not to the pitch of the ball. The ball grips and turns away to beat her on the outside edge.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Full and darted into the pads, kept out on the leg side.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! A poor delivery and duly punished! Pushed down leg by Sophie, on the fuller side. Laura Wolvaardt gets down on a knee for the sweep. Gets it finer than she would have expected as it comes off the gloves and it races down to deep fine leg for a boundary. Wolvaardt gets to 5000 runs in ODIs!
Sophie Ecclestone to Tazmin Brits, Low full toss, on middle, Brits drives it to long on and crosses over.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Sliding on with the arm, full in length, Laura Wolvaardt knocks it to long on for one more.
Sophie Ecclestone to Laura Wolvaardt, Starts with a loopy ball from around the wicket, full and at the stumps. Laura Wolvaardt blocks it out in front.
Nat Sciver-Brunt now calls her ace bowler, Sophie Ecclestone, into the attack.
- Laura Wolvaardt 43 (42)
- Tazmin Brits 26 (42)
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Keeps it full, on off, Laura eases it to the left of cover for another single.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Drifting in, full and on middle, Tazmin Brits clips it away in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! This will help Brits feel a little better! This is fuller and a bit wide on off. Tazmin charges down the track and launches it over the leaping mid off fielder for a boundary.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Drags the length back and fires it in, on off. Tazmin Brits skips down the track to go over mid off but fails to get to the pitch of it. Lofts it on the bounce to mid off.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, This is tossed up, full and wide on off. Laura drives it to deep cover and crosses over.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Pushed through, full and around the off pole, Laura Wolvaardt pushes it to cover off the front foot.
- Laura Wolvaardt 41 (39)
- Tazmin Brits 21 (39)
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, At the hips, on a back of a length, helped away to deep fine leg for one more.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Angled in, on middle, on a short of a length. Tazmin Brits flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Another well-directed bumper from Nat Sciver-Brunt, around off with Amy Jones up to the stumps. Tazmin Brits pivots in the crease to get it away but fails to connect. She loses her balance but manages to keep her back leg rooted inside the crease as Amy takes the bails off.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, NSB goes short again, around the right shoulder. Wolvaardt swivels and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, On a hard length, outside off, Laura Wolvaardt gets the width to free her arms and she rides the bounce to cut it to the left of deep point for a brace.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Honing in on the off stump, on a good length, Wolvaardt punches it to cover off the front foot.
- Tazmin Brits 20 (37)
- Laura Wolvaardt 37 (35)
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Flat and full, around off, Tazmin Brits brings out the reverse but picks out Linsey Smith at short third. A tidy start from Dean. Just a single off it.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Another that is bowled quicker through the air, full and outside off. Tazmin Brits reaches out for the drive but misses.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Fired in, full and on off, pushed to cover off the front foot.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Looped up, full and on the pads, Tazmin Brits steps out and nudges it to short fine leg.
Charlie Dean to Tazmin Brits, Beaten! This is pushed through and it drifts away from the right-hander, full and outside off. Brits leans ahead for the drive and plays for the turn but is beaten past the outside edge.
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
