South Africa, led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, were up against England, led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, on Wednesday, 29th October 2025 in the 1st semi-final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. A repeat of the semi-final clashes in the 2017 and 2022 editions. On both the occasions, the Proteas suffered a heartbreaking defeat. A time for potential redemption for the Laura Wolvaardt-led side. The last time these two sides were up against each other in the ongoing edition, in the league stages, South Africa were bundled out for 69 and eventually suffered a hammering 10-wicket defeat.
South Africa added depth in the batting department with the inclusion of Anneke Bosch, trimming down the pace attack, as Masabata Klaas made way for her. England retained the same side that took the field in their final league fixture against New Zealand.
Laura Wolvaardt’s record 169 gives South Africa the highest semi-final total
The South African openers, Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt, put the horrors of their league stage shortcomings to bed with a massive 116-run opening stand, after losing the toss and being inserted to bat first in Guwahati in the first semi-final. It took the introduction of the most talked-about English players ahead of the clash, Sophie Ecclestone, who kept things tight in her initial overs, before she cleaned up Tazmin Brits (45 off 65 balls) and Anneke Bosch. The left-arm spinner struck twice, providing the much-needed opening breakthroughs for England in the 23rd over of the innings.
Courtesy of some reckless shots, South Africa allowed England back into the game as they went from 116/0 to 119/3 in the space of the next three overs. One of the most experienced duos in the line-up, Marizanne Kapp, joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease, and Marizanne Kapp took the bull by the horns, unleashing a calculated counterattack against the opposition skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, during the early stages of the innings.
Marizanne Kapp (42 off 33 balls) mistimed a wild slog, and yet again, it was Sophie Ecclestone who provided the crucial 4th breakthrough for her side in the 37th over of the innings. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt registered her maiden century in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, as she kept losing partners from the other end. She also became the first captain to score a century in a knockout fixture in the tournament.
By the time Chloe Tryon joined her skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, at the crease, South Africa were in a bit of trouble at 202/5 in 40 overs. The Proteas skipper continued to switch gears and registered the 2nd highest individual score, 169 (143 balls) in a World Cup semi-final after Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171* (115 balls) against Australia in 2017. South Africa eventually posted the highest total in a semi-final, 319/7 in their quota of 50 overs. Chloe Tryon (33* off 26 balls) and Nadine de Klerk (11* off 6 balls) chipped in with handy cameos with the bat for South Africa.
Sophie Ecclestone (10-1-44-4) and Lauren Bell (10-0-55-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for England.
Marizanne Kapp’s 5-fer guides South Africa to maiden ODI World Cup Final
Marizanne Kapp’s immaculate accuracy in the line and length, and her fierce energy through the crease, infused the momentum into South Africa’s bid to defend the total. As she removed Amy Jones and Heather Knight for a duck in the first over of the innings. Ayabonga Khaka followed it up as she cleaned up Tammy Beaumont for a golden duck, having England on the back foot, with three down and no runs off the bat. Alice Capsey joined skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt at the crease and got the first runs off the bat in the form of a boundary.
The pair weathered the storm, and the duo settled the nerves in the England camp with a massive 107-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Sune Luus broke the stand, by sending Alice Capsey (50 off 71 balls) back to the pavilion in the 23rd over of the innings, to provide the crucial 4th breakthrough for South Africa. She registered her maiden half-century in the ODI format before getting dismissed.
Danielle Wyatt-Hodge joined skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt at the crease, and the pair stitched another crucial 30-run partnership for the 5th wicket. Marizanne Kapp returned and got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt (64 off 76 balls) in the 29th over of the innings, to provide the 5th breakthrough for South Africa in the 29th over of the run chase.
The wheels came off after their skipper’s departure. As a result, they were eventually bundled out for 194, with more than 7 overs to spare. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (34 off 31 balls) and Linsey Smith (27 off 36 balls) were the lone warriors towards the end for England. Despite the efforts, England fell 125 runs short of the target. England lost their last five wickets for just 56 runs.
Marizanne Kapp (7-3-20-5) returned with the best figures by a South African bowler in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. Ayabonga Khaka (8-0-28-1), Nadine de Klerk (5.3-0-24-2), Sune Luus (6-0-41-1), and Nonkululeko Mlaba (8-0-40-1) played their part with the ball for their side.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational impact, an innings for the ages in an ODI World Cup semi-final. She, alongside Marizanne Kapp’s 5-fer, played a pivotal role in helping the Proteas seal their maiden appearance in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final, men or women.
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