The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati was the setting for a moment of monumental sporting history as the South Africa Women’s team, powered by a masterclass from captain Laura Wolvaardt and a ferocious bowling spell by Marizanne Kapp, crushed four-time champions England by a massive 125 runs to secure their place in a maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final.
The victory not only shattered South Africa’s semi-final curse—a stage they had fallen at three times previously in ODI World Cups—but also served as sweet revenge for their crushing 10-wicket defeat to England earlier in the tournament’s group stage. It was a performance defined by two world-class individual efforts, which ensured the Proteas Women now look forward to facing the winner of the second semi-final between hosts India and defending champions Australia.
A Captain’s Knock of Legendary Proportions
After England won the toss and elected to field, hoping to capitalise on early movement, South Africa’s opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits set a strong platform with a crucial 116-run opening stand. Wolvaardt, who has been the pillar of the South African batting line-up throughout the tournament, was in sublime form, crafting an innings of majestic stroke-play and calculated aggression.
Wolvaardt brought up her century off 115 balls before unleashing an incredible onslaught in the final overs. She was particularly brutal in the death overs, scoring her last 69 runs off a mere 28 deliveries. Her extraordinary innings of 169 off 143 balls, laced with 20 fours and four sixes, became the highest score by a captain in a Women’s World Cup knockout match. This spectacular effort anchored the South African innings, guiding them past the 300-run mark despite a middle-order wobble.
England’s ace spinner, Sophie Ecclestone (4/44), was the only bowler to find consistent success, twice halting South Africa’s momentum by breaking the century opening stand and later removing the dangerous Marizanne Kapp (42 off 33 balls), who helped Wolvaardt rebuild with a brisk 72-run partnership. However, late cameos from Chloe Tryon (33*) and Nadine de Klerk (11*) ensured South Africa finished with a daunting total of 319/7 in their 50 overs.
Kapp’s Carnage: A Historic Bowling Spell
Chasing a record total in a semi-final, England’s response was annihilated in the very first over by the sheer brilliance of Marizanne Kapp. Looking to settle the nerves and start the chase with intent, England was instead reduced to 1/3 by the end of the second over.
Kapp, using the full width of the crease and a perfect seam position, removed Amy Jones and captain Heather Knight for ducks in her opening over, the latter clean-bowled. The momentum was compounded when Ayabonga Khaka struck at the other end, having Tammy Beaumont caught behind for a golden duck.
England’s innings was in tatters, but a fighting partnership emerged between all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and young Alice Capsey. The pair absorbed the pressure and stitched together a courageous 107-run stand for the fourth wicket, each bringing up a well-deserved half-century (Sciver-Brunt 64, Capsey 50).
However, the required run rate remained demanding, and the South African bowlers were relentless. Kapp returned to the attack to end the brief resistance, finding the outside edge of Sciver-Brunt, effectively ending England’s challenge. Kapp then cleaned up the tail, finishing with sensational figures of 5 for 20, a career-best performance that also saw her become the highest wicket-taker in Women’s Cricket World Cup history, surpassing Jhulan Goswami’s 43 wickets. England were eventually bowled out for 194 in 42.3 overs.
The 125-run margin of victory was a true testament to South Africa’s complete dominance on the day, securing their spot in the final and erasing the painful memories of their previous World Cup semi-final exits.
