South Africa have finally ended their long and agonising wait to play in a Women’s World Cup final. After the heartbreaks of 2000, 2017, and 2022, the Proteas have created history by reaching their maiden final of the tournament.
Laura Wolvaardt’s team achieved the feat in style, knocking out four-time champions England with a commanding 125-run victory at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Leading from the front, Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp stood tall when it mattered most, steering South Africa through a defining contest.
ENG vs SA, 1st semifinal: Scorecard
Remarkably, it was at the same venue earlier in the tournament that South Africa had suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat after being bowled out for just 69. This time, however, the Proteas turned up with renewed intent and unyielding resolve, giving England no room to breathe.
The win also marked a remarkable hat-trick of ICC final appearances for South Africa, following their runs to the title clashes in the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cups.
Having fallen short in both those finals, the Proteas will now be determined to go one step further and lift their first-ever ICC trophy when they face the winner of the India–Australia semi-final on November 2.
WOLVAARDT, ECCLESTONE SHINE
Carrying the scars of their earlier clash against England, South Africa held their nerve this time. Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits ensured England endured their first wicketless powerplay of the tournament, blunting the early threat of Linsey Smith — who had run riot in their previous meeting.
The pair added 116 for the opening wicket to lay a solid platform. But England hit back strongly as the Proteas lost Brits, Sune Luus, and Anneke Bosch in quick succession. Sophie Ecclestone, returning from a shoulder injury, turned the game briefly with a double strike in the 23rd over — removing Brits for 45 and Bosch for a duck.
England vs South Africa, Women’s World Cup Highlights
Nat Sciver-Brunt then found Luus’ outside edge as South Africa stumbled to 119 for three, losing three wickets for as many runs. However, Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp steadied the innings with a 72-run stand for the fourth wicket. Wolvaardt reached her half-century off 52 balls and later brought up her century off 115 deliveries.
In the process, she also became the second-fastest batter to 5,000 ODI runs. The South African skipper accelerated superbly thereafter, reaching 150 from just 136 balls. She was eventually dismissed by Lauren Bell for a magnificent 169 off 143 balls, studded with 20 fours and four sixes.
Kapp played the perfect supporting role with a brisk 42 off 33 balls. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk added useful runs down the order, scoring 33 and 11 respectively, as South Africa posted 319 for seven — the second-highest total in Women’s World Cup knockout history.
For England, Ecclestone was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 10–1–44–4.
KAPP ROCKS ENGLAND
England’s fate in the run chase was sealed almost immediately when Marizanne Kapp produced a stunning display of swing bowling, dismissing Amy Jones and Heather Knight for ducks in the very first over. In the next over, Ayabonga Khaka compounded England’s misery by removing the experienced Tammy Beaumont, leaving them reeling early.
From there, skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey tried to rebuild, stitching together a 105-run stand for the fourth wicket that gave England a glimmer of hope. Capsey struck a fluent 50, while Sciver-Brunt battled her way to 64, but their dismissals in quick succession ended any realistic chance of a comeback.
Sune Luus broke the partnership by dismissing Capsey, before Kapp returned to remove Sciver-Brunt with a beauty that caught the outside edge. Kapp then ran through the middle order, sending back Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean to complete her second five-wicket haul in ODIs. Her spell of 7–0–20–5 dismantled England’s batting lineup and broke the game wide open.
The dismissal of Sciver-Brunt was effectively the final nail in England’s coffin. Danni Wyatt-Hodge fought gamely with a 34 off 31 balls, but the required rate kept climbing beyond reach. Once it soared past ten an over, England’s chase unravelled quickly, and they were eventually bowled out for 192 in 42.2 overs.
– Ends
