Wolvaardt and Kapp Propel South Africa to Historic First Women’s ODI World Cup Final

South Africa is a team driven by passion. Revisiting a venue where they had previously suffered a crushing defeat against England, bowled out for a mere 69, the Proteas returned with a vengeance.

With a commanding 125-run win in the first semifinal at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, they secured their first appearance in the final of the 50-over tournament.

England, tasked with achieving their highest-ever chase in this format (their previous best being 264 against Australia in the Ashes), started disastrously. They lost their first three wickets for just one run, courtesy of Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka’s efforts.

AS IT HAPPENED | England vs South Africa highlights

However, England’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is familiar with crisis situations. Taking on a lackluster Proteas attack on an unpredictable wicket, she immediately began a strong counteroffensive. She shared a rapid 107-run partnership with Alice Capsey, testing South Africa’s resolve.

Despite cramping, Kapp persisted and sent Capsey, Sciver-Brunt, and Sophia Dunkley back to the pavilion, completing a five-wicket haul similar to her performance against the same opponents in a 2022 league stage win. Although Danni Wyatt-Hodge, in only her second match of the tournament, and Linsey Smith resisted, their efforts were in vain. The four-time champions watched in silence as their campaign came to an end.

Wolvaardt’s Masterclass

Choosing to bat first, a strategy that hadn’t favored them in the tournament so far, Laura Wolvaardt carried the burden of creating magic. The team management even replaced pacer Masabata Klaas with Anneke Bosch, an extra batter, to fully exploit the pitch, termed a ‘Mumbai wicket’ by the curator.

And Wolvaardt delivered brilliantly! Her commanding 169 off 143 balls mirrored the intense emotions of her team. She opened with her signature cover drive, signaling her aggressive intent.

At the other end, Tazmin Brits occasionally slowed the pace to play safely, but Wolvaardt capitalized on any errors from the English bowlers, including a wide line. Brits’ repeated attempts at an awkward reverse sweep ultimately led to her demise against Sophie Ecclestone, who nutmegged her.

Despite visible pain in her bowling shoulder following an injury, Ecclestone stepped up when England needed her, dismissing Bosch for a duck shortly thereafter. Sciver-Brunt also dispatched Sune Luus, with barely three additional runs scored.

Nevertheless, seasoned players Marizanne Kapp and Wolvaardt formed a vital 72-run partnership to stabilize the innings. However, Sciver-Brunt’s strategic field placements tempted Kapp into a risky shot, resulting in her dismissal by Ecclestone.

The Proteas faced challenges with high dot ball percentages throughout the tournament, and this match was no different; 110 of the first 180 balls failed to yield runs. Sinalo Jafta and Annerie Dercksen struggled to gather momentum. Wolvaardt, however, persisted and reached a stunning maiden ODI World Cup century.

With 202 runs on the board after 40 overs, Wolvaardt transformed her approach, aggressively targeting England’s bowlers. South Africa added 117 runs in the last 10 overs, with 68 contributed by Wolvaardt herself.

The schoolchildren who participated in the anthem ceremony, initially distracted by games on their mobile phones during the middle overs, switched to their cameras to capture every boundary from Wolvaardt’s bat. When she was eventually dismissed in the 48th over, both opponents and teammates greeted her with admiration for her achievements, as the dugout celebrated her effort, with Tryon and Nadine de Klerk pushing South Africa to an unreachable total.

Published on Oct 29, 2025