Laura Wolvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon have been the driving force behind South Africa Women’s rise to the 2025 World Cup Final with stellar all-round shows.
Laura Wolvaardt
Laura Wolvaardt’s ODI career has already placed her among cricket’s modern greats — 118 matches, 5121 runs, and 10 centuries, a glowing record of consistency and class. In the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, she has been at her elegant best, scoring 470 runs in eight matches at an average of 67.14, including three match-defining fifties. Her form has been the cornerstone of South Africa’s journey to the finals, highlighted by a majestic 169-run knock in the semi-final against England that set the tone for the Proteas’ resurgence. Against India, Wolvaardt’s numbers continue to impress 806 runs in 21 matches, a mark of her adaptability and technical brilliance against one of the world’s strongest bowling units. Her best innings against India came in June 2024, when she scored an unbeaten 135* while chasing a stiff target of 325. Though South Africa fell short by a narrow margin of 4 runs, Wolvaardt’s innings filled with 12 fours and 3 sixes stood out as a testament to her grit and determination under pressure.
Nadine de Klerk
Nadine de Klerk’s all-round presence has been instrumental to South Africa’s success. A career spanning 57 ODIs has seen her score 916 runs and take 67 wickets, showing her growth as a genuine match-winning all-rounder. This World Cup further strengthened that reputation 190 runs at an average of 63.33 and 8 wickets underline her balance between aggression and control. She has repeatedly stepped up in critical moments, rescuing her side from challenging positions and shaping victories with both bat and ball. Against India, De Klerk’s figures speak volumes , 204 runs and several impactful spells in 11 matches, underscoring her knack for changing games. Her finest performance against India came in this very World Cup, when she smashed an unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls at a strike rate of 155.56, laced with 8 sixes and 5 fours. Coming in when South Africa were under pressure, her fearless innings turned an almost-lost match into an iconic win that will be remembered for years.
Chloe Tryon
Chloe Tryon’s journey has been built on versatility and experience. Over 123 ODIs, she has accumulated 2283 runs and claimed 61 wickets, playing the dual role of a powerful middle-order hitter and a reliable left-arm spinner. In the 2025 World Cup, she has turned up at crucial times once again, scoring 167 runs and taking 5 wickets in 8 matches while maintaining a steady influence over the team’s balance. Against India, Tryon’s record of 411 runs and 8 wickets in 14 matches highlights her effectiveness against a formidable opponent. Her best all-round show versus India came in Visakhapatnam this World Cup, where she produced a defining performance of 3/32 with the ball, followed by a crucial 49 with the bat that guided South Africa to a three wicket victory. Tryon’s composure and impact in pressure games make her one of South Africa’s silent match-winners.
Together, Wolvaardt’s consistency, De Klerk’s spark, and Tryon’s balance form the core of South Africa’s campaign. Their performances in this World Cup have embodied South African cricket’s resilience, ensuring the Proteas remain a force to reckon with on the global stage.
As the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup reaches its grand finale, India will be facing South Africa in a highly anticipated clash. Both teams will be eyeing their first-ever World Cup trophy, setting up a historic contest between two evenly balanced sides hungry for glory. With South Africa led by the composed Laura Wolvaardt and India fueled by its dynamic lineup, the stage is set for a thrilling battle that could redefine the legacy of women’s cricket.
Loves all things female cricket