1ST SEMI FINAL , ENGLAND W Vs SOUTH AFRICA W , GUWAHATI ,ICC WOMENS WORLD CUP 2025 HIGHLIGHTS : Wolvaardt’s Century And Kapp’s Mind Blowing Performance Cleared The Path To Final For South Africa .
Laura Wolvaardt crushed 169 while Marizanne Kapp claimed a five-wicket haul as South Africa destroyed England by 125 runs to reach the 2025 Women’s World Cup final. England needed 320 to win but got dismissed for just 194, with Kapp delivering devastating figures of 5/20. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey built a 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket after their top order crumbled. Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt hammered an extraordinary 169 to push South Africa to 319/7. The Proteas skipper carried the team despite losing partners at regular intervals, recording the highest individual score by a South African player in Women’s World Cup history. She found valuable contributions from Tazmin Brits (45) and Marizanne Kapp (44) early in the innings, plus Chloe Tryon’s unbeaten 33 later on. Sophie Ecclestone grabbed four wickets for England, while Lauren Bell picked up two more. Wolvaardt’s Century And Kapp’s Mind Blowing Performance Cleared The Path To Final For South Africa .
TOSS
England Women won the coin flip and chose to bowl first.
PLAYING XI
South Africa Women (Playing XI):
Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
England Women (Playing XI):
Amy Jones(w), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN
South Africa’s attack began with their opening pair, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, who built a solid 116-run partnership for the first wicket after choosing to bat. Sophie Eccelestone’s deadly double strike in the 23rd over shattered that momentum. Brits got bowled trying a reverse sweep against the spinner while Anneke Bosch got cleaned up without scoring. The following over saw Sune Luus fall for just 1 after inside-edging a pull shot onto her stumps.
Wolvaardt and Kapp rebuilt the innings, with Kapp making sure they didn’t lose steam. She smashed a quick-fire 42 before Ecclestone came back into the attack and split the partnership once more. That wicket sparked another collapse as South Africa quickly slumped to 202 for 6.
Wolvaardt really turned things around in the second half of the innings, launching a fierce counter-attack against England’s bowling lineup. Her brilliant knock featured 20 boundaries and 4 sixes, setting up South Africa perfectly to cross the 300-run milestone. Quick-fire contributions from Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk helped push the total even higher. Linsey Smith took a real beating during this late South African assault.
ENGLAND WOMEN
England’s chase got off to a nightmare start, with their top three batters gone for just one run on the scoreboard. Facing an uphill battle, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey steadied the ship with careful batting. The pair built a solid 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Capsey was dismissed by Sune Luus right after reaching her fifty.
Sciver-Brunt tried to keep England’s hopes alive alongside Danni Wyatt-Hodge, but Kapp struck back into the attack and removed her for 64. Kapp’s return completely dismantled England’s middle order. Even with some fight from Linsey Smith, England couldn’t mount a serious challenge and crashed out of the competition.
South Africa will now meet either India or Australia in the final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 319/7 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 169, Tazmin Brits 45; Sophie Ecclestone 4-44) defeated England 194 in 42.3 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 64, Alice Capsey 50; Marizanne Kapp 5-20) by 125 runs.