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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.
Charlie Dean is brought into the attack.
Charlie Dean to Laura Wolvaardt, Starts with a flighted delivery, full and wide on off. Laura extends her hands and drives it to deep cover for one.
- Laura Wolvaardt 36 (34)
- Tazmin Brits 20 (32)
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, At 100.6 kph, on a back of a length, outside off, Laura Wolvaardt cracks the cut to deep cover for one more.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Serves it on a short of a length, on the off pole, Laura Wolvaardt steers it to short third.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, On a short of a length, on off, Tazmin Brits dabs it wide of point for a single.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Nat Sciver-Brunt bends her back and digs it in short, the line is slightly down leg. Tazmin Brits swivels but fails to connect. Brits looks at both umpires for a wide but they are happy with it.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Angled into the right-hander, on a back of a length. Brits is beaten on the flick and gets rapped high on the front pad.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and wide on off, cut away to deep point for a single.
End of Powerplay! England can now have 4 fielders outside the 25-yard circle for the rest of the innings. With this extra protection, they will look to stem the boundaries and find a way to break the stand.
- Tazmin Brits 19 (29)
- Laura Wolvaardt 34 (31)
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Quicker one, on off, Tazmin Brits blocks this around mid off for no run.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Tazmin Brits goes up and over mid off for four. Tossed up on middle and off, Tazmin Brits jumps down the track and lofts this clearing the mid off fielder with ease for a boundary down to the long off region.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Quicker and flatter on middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt drills this through mid on for one.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Floated on off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this out.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Partnership of 50 comes up for South Africa Women with this boundary. Tossed up around off, Laura Wolvaardt strides to the pitch of the delivery and drives this crisply through the gap between cover and point for four more.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Flighted around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this on the bounce to Sophia Dunkley at extra cover.
- Tazmin Brits 15 (27)
- Laura Wolvaardt 29 (27)
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Good length on middle and leg, Tazmin Brits rolls this to mid on.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, A tad fuller from Sciver-Brunt and Tazmin drives this to cover.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, On a length around off, Tazmin Brits blocks this out.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, A surprise from NSB to her counterpart. Short one around middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt gets hurried into the pull and ends up scuffing this off the sticker of her bat towards square leg for one.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! And another boundary for Laura Wolvaardt. On a length wide outside off, Laura Wolvaardt leans onto the pitch of it and plays the square drive in the gap for four more runs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! On a length wide down the leg, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick but misses. Wided.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length on off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this out.
- Tazmin Brits 15 (24)
- Laura Wolvaardt 24 (24)
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Success for Brits on this occasion as she reverse sweeps this fuller one, on off, wide to the left of short third for two.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Fuller on off, Tazmin Brits drives this to mid off.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Well that's a rare sight, Brits opt to play a reverse sweep and that doesn't go well as she misses out on any connection with the bat and is hit on her pads.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Fuller on off, Tazmin Brits defends this off her front foot.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Quicker one, on off, Tazmin Brits jumps down the track but fails to get on top of it, blocks at the end.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Fuller on off, Tazmin Brits drives this to mid off for no run.
- Laura Wolvaardt 24 (24)
- Tazmin Brits 13 (18)
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, On a length around off, Laura Wolvaardt deliberately plays this late. Opens the face of her bat and cuts this behind square on off for two. Tammy Beaumont gives it a good chase from short third and cuts it off just inside the fence.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length on middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt punches this to point.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Back of a length on middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this well.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, Back of a length around middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt punches this towards the bowler's right for no run.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Good length, wide down the leg side. Laura Wolvaardt goes for the tickle but misses. Wided.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Cutter, around middle and off, Tazmin Brits nudges this through square leg for one.
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Tazmin Brits, Good length around off, Tazmin Brits works this through mid-wicket for a couple.
- Laura Wolvaardt 22 (20)
- Tazmin Brits 10 (16)
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Floated around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this to cover for a dot. Laura is such a sight to watch when on song and she means business in this crunch game.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up on off, Laura Wolvaardt blocks this out.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Linsey bowls a tad fuller, on off, Laura Wolvaardt presses in front and drives this to cover for no run.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Another boundary as Laura continues to dominate Smith in this battle. Smith drags her length back and bowls a tad quicker as well. Laura Wolvaardt punches this past the left of cover and finds the fence for four more.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! A gift from Smith is graciously accepted by Laura Wolvaardt. Low full toss, around off, Laura Wolvaardt leans onto it and drives this all along the ground through the cover region for four runs.
Linsey Smith to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up around off, Laura Wolvaardt cuts this to point.
- Tazmin Brits 10 (16)
- Laura Wolvaardt 14 (14)
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Back of a length wide of off, Brits leaves this.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, Good length around off, Tazmin Brits blocks this out.
Lauren Bell to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! MUSCLED AWAY! On a length wide outside off, Tazmin Brits stays leg side to the delivery and smashes this powerfully into the gap between extra cover and sweeper cover for four runs.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Was this needed for South Africa Women? A risky single and had Charlie Dean found the stumps here at the striker's end, maybe it would have been curtains for Tazmin Brits running to that end. Good length around off, Laura Wolvaardt dabs this to the left of Charlie Dean at cover and runs for a quick one. Dean swiftly collects the ball by moving to her left and aims at the striker's end, but misses. Had she hit the stumps, Brits was gone.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Laura has been timing the ball beautifully but since the first over, she is finding fielders. On a length around off, Laura Wolvaardt drives this off her front foot straight to short cover.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Length was good but Lauren Bell errs in line and bowls this down leg. Laura Wolvaardt leaves it. Wided.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Bell bends her back and hits the deck hard, taking this back into the batter. Laura Wolvaardt blocks this to short mid-wicket.
- Tazmin Brits 6 (13)
- Laura Wolvaardt 13 (11)
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Quicker and flatter on off, Tazmin Brits gets right behind the line of it and blocks.
Linsey Smith to Tazmin Brits, Floated around off, Tazmin Brits drives this well but straight to cover.
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
