Women’s World Cup 2025, SF 1, ENG vs SA: Wolvaardt’s breathtaking century and Kapp’s all-round brilliance stun England in a one-sided semi-final.
Brief Scores: South Africa 319/7 (Laura Wolvaardt 169, Marizanne Kapp 42, Sophie Ecclestone 4/44) beat England 194 (Nat Sciver-Brunt 64, Alice Capsey 50, Marizanne Kapp 5/20) by 125 runs.
Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt
After 28 league-stage encounters, England secured the second spot on the points table, followed closely by South Africa in the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The two sides met in a high-stakes clash for the first semifinal at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
The knockout fixture was played on a fresh, unused surface with a light covering of grass, promising assistance for the bowlers. Extra bounce was expected, and with the floodlights switched on even before the toss, conditions looked ideal for the pacers to extract movement with the new ball.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bowl first without hesitation. Star spinner Sophie Ecclestone returned to the XI after recovering from a shoulder injury, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge retained her place to strengthen the middle order. South Africa made one change, bringing in Anneke Bosch for Masabata Klaas to add depth to their batting lineup.
Talking point: Kapp’s early in-roads to middle over excellence
Despite putting up a formidable 319 on the board, South Africa knew they needed early breakthroughs to stay in control. However, the onset of dew made conditions tricky, especially for the spinners struggling to grip the wet ball.
Marizanne Kapp rose to the occasion, drawing on her skill and experience to strike twice in the very first over — a double blow that rattled England early. She later returned in the middle overs to dismantle the opposition’s core, finishing with a brilliant five-wicket haul that turned the contest firmly in South Africa’s favour.
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Laura Wolvaardt’s marathon 169 shoulders South Africa to 319/7
South Africa got off to a commanding start in the semifinal, with captain Laura Wolvaardt finding the boundary twice in the opening over to set the tone. Tazmin Brits provided steady support from the other end as the pair built a solid 115-run opening stand. However, Sophie Ecclestone broke the partnership and shifted momentum with a double strike in the 23rd over. The Proteas faltered through the middle phase, losing six wickets for just 86 runs.
At the other end, Wolvaardt remained composed and in control. Unfazed by the collapse, she brought up her 10th ODI century and soon shifted gears, powering a blistering 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Chloe Tryon off just 47 balls. England looked bereft of answers as Wolvaardt dominated the proceedings, finishing with a stunning 169 off 143 deliveries, laced with 20 fours and four sixes.
Tryon provided a late flourish, remaining unbeaten on 33 from 26 balls, as South Africa posted an imposing 319/7 in their 50 overs.
Kapp’s 5/20 takes South Africa to maiden Women’s ODI World Cup final
It was the perfect start with the ball for the Rainbow Nation. Marizanne Kapp struck early, removing Amy Jones for a second-ball duck as one nipped back sharply to breach the right-hander’s defence. Two balls later, Heather Knight chased a wide delivery and dragged it onto her stumps, leaving England in early trouble.
From the other end, Ayabonga Khaka joined the party, finding the outside edge of Tammy Beaumont for a first-ball duck. In a stunning opening burst, England were reduced to 1/3 within seven balls of a daunting chase. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey offered resistance with a 107-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the damage had already been done.
Just after reaching her fifty, Capsey’s patience wore thin — her mistimed lofted shot landing safely in Nadine de Klerk’s hands. Kapp returned to claim the prized wicket of Sciver-Brunt on 64, triggering a collapse as England’s lower order crumbled.
Despite a few late shots, England were eventually bundled out for 194, handing South Africa a 125-run victory and, with it, their maiden qualification for a Women’s Cricket World Cup final.
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Statistical highlights from England vs South Africa, SF1 in Women’s World Cup 2025
- Laura Wolvaardt equals Mithali Raj to record 13 fifty-plus scores in Women’s World Cup history. She achieved the record in 13 fewer innings than the former India captain.
- Laura Wolvaardt completes 5000 runs in Women’s ODIs. She becomes the first South Africa batter and sixth overall to reach the milestone in WODIs.
- Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits record South Africa’s second-highest opening stand (116) against England in Women’s World Cup.
- Sophie Ecclestone becomes the joint-fourth leading wicket-taker (37) in Women’s World Cup. South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp leads the chart with 44 wickets.
- Laura Wolvaardt overtakes New Zealand’s Deborah Hockley to become the leading run-getter against England in Women’s World Cup with 384 runs in six innings. She has three fifties and one century in this battle.
- Laura Wolvaardt has recorded the second-best knock (169) as captain in Women’s World Cup.
- Chloe Tryon and Laura Wolvaardt record South Africa’s third-best seventh-wicket partnership (89) in Women’s ODIs.
- South Africa record their highest team-score of 319/7 in the Women’s World Cup. They surpassed their previous record of 312/9 against Pakistan a week ago.
- Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt record England’s joint second-best fourth-wicket partnership (107) against South Africa in WODIs.
- Marizanne Kapp becomes the leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODI World Cup. She overtakes Jhulan Goswami (43) with 44 wickets in 28 innings.
What’s next
The table-toppers, Australia, will lock horns with hosts India for the second semifinal of the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The clash will take place on October 30 at the DR DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
What a performance from @ProteasWomenCSA. Incredible stroke-play from Laura Wolvaardt, and Kappie leading from the front with the ball with that 5-er.
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 29, 2025
On to the Final. Let’s keep that momentum going. Come on Proteas! 🏆💚💛 #CWC25 https://t.co/aDZDdWNqjD
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