Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliant 169 off 143 balls and Marizanne Kapp’s all-round performance (42 runs and 5 for 20) powered South Africa into their first-ever ODI World Cup final. The Proteas posted a commanding 319 for 7 in Guwahati before skittling England out for 194, registering a dominant 125-run victory.
Laura Wolvaardt plays a historic knock
South Africa’s innings got off to a strong start through Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, who combined for a 116-run opening stand after being asked to bat first. Their solid partnership gave the team early control before Sophie Ecclestone struck twice in the 23rd over to turn things around. Brits was bowled attempting a reverse sweep, and Anneke Bosch followed soon after without scoring. In the next over, Sune Luus was dismissed for just one run, dragging a pull shot onto her stumps.
Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp then worked to rebuild the innings, adding much-needed stability in the middle overs. Kapp played with positive intent, scoring a brisk 42 and keeping the scoreboard moving until Ecclestone returned to remove her. That wicket opened the door for another mini-collapse, as South Africa found themselves struggling at 202 for 6, losing momentum just when they seemed set for a big total.
Refusing to let the innings drift, Wolvaardt took charge in the latter stages, launching a counter-attack that dismantled England’s bowling plans. Her knock, highlighted by 20 fours and 4 sixes, pushed South Africa beyond the 300-run mark. Quickfire cameos from Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk further lifted the total, with Linsey Smith taking the most punishment during the late assault that sealed South Africa’s commanding finish.
England's batting order folds for just 194
England’s chase got off to a nightmarish start as their top order collapsed within moments, leaving them reeling at 1 for 3. The South African new-ball bowlers, led by a fired-up Marizanne Kapp, exploited the conditions brilliantly, finding movement and bounce that unsettled the batters. With early dismissals piling pressure, England were forced into a cautious rebuild, looking to avoid a complete batting disaster in the powerplay.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey then steadied the ship with a composed partnership that gradually pulled England back into contention. The pair mixed defense with calculated aggression, forming a crucial 107-run stand for the fourth wicket. Capsey reached her half-century with a series of elegant strokes before falling to Sune Luus, who broke the vital partnership at just the right moment. That dismissal halted England’s momentum just as they seemed to be recovering from the early slump.
Sciver-Brunt continued to lead the resistance with her trademark determination, joined by Danni Wyatt-Hodge for another small but important stand. However, Kapp’s return to the attack proved decisive once again, as she removed Sciver-Brunt for 64 and triggered another collapse. The remaining batters struggled to withstand the relentless pace and accuracy of the South African bowlers. Although Linsey Smith fought briefly to delay the inevitable, England eventually folded for 194, falling well short of the target and bowing out of the tournament while South Africa celebrated a historic place in their first-ever ODI World Cup final.
South Africa will now face the winner of the India vs Australia clash in the final, set to be played in Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.
Scorecard: South Africa 319/7 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 169, Tazmin Brits 45; Sophie Ecclestone 4-44) beat England 194 in 42.3 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 64, Alice Capsey 50; Marizanne Kapp 5-20) by 125 runs