Wolvaardt’s 169 and Kapp’s five-for secure South Africa spot in Women’s World Cup final

Post by : Mara Rahim

South Africa delivered a commanding display to reach the Women’s World Cup final, overpowering England by 125 runs in the first semi-final at Guwahati. Captain Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a landmark effort that defined the contest.

Opting to bat, South Africa compiled 319 for seven, propelled by Wolvaardt’s outstanding 169 from 143 deliveries. Her innings featured 20 fours and four sixes and established the platform for a dominant total that ultimately proved unassailable.

Wolvaardt paced her innings from the outset, sharing a patient 116-run opening stand with Tazmin Brits that blunted England’s early attack. Brits contributed 45 before Sophie Ecclestone removed her, and Wolvaardt later put together a valuable 72-run partnership with Marizanne Kapp to keep the momentum.

England’s Sophie Ecclestone, making her return from a shoulder problem, struck twice in one over — including the wicket of Anneke Bosch — and finished with figures of 4 for 44. Despite her return to form, Ecclestone was unable to arrest Wolvaardt’s influence at the crease.

South Africa accelerated in the final phase of the innings, with Chloe Tryon supplying quick late runs in an unbeaten 33 to help add 117 in the last 10 overs. Wolvaardt’s superb knock ended in the 48th over when she was caught off Lauren Bell, earning respectful applause from the England side.

England’s reply collapsed early as Marizanne Kapp struck immediately with a two-wicket maiden, removing Amy Jones and Heather Knight. Ayabonga Khaka then dismissed Tammy Beaumont with her first legal delivery, leaving England reeling at one run for three wickets inside the opening over.

A recovery looked possible when Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey combined for a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Sciver-Brunt’s 64 and Capsey’s 50 briefly steadied England, but the passage proved transient as Kapp returned to break the stand.

Once that partnership was ended, South Africa dominated the closing phase. Kapp dismissed Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean in successive deliveries and finished with an exceptional five-wicket return of 5 for 20, as England were bowled out for 194 in 42.3 overs.

The loss marks another disappointing World Cup exit for England, who have now fallen to South Africa in their last three semi-final encounters. The defending champions were undone by intermittent batting and an inability to counter the sustained pace threat from Kapp.

South Africa’s win advances them to Sunday’s final in Navi Mumbai, where they will face the winner of the Australia–India semi-final. The result presents South Africa with a historic chance to claim their first Women’s World Cup title.

The Guwahati semi-final was notable for its all-round balance: Wolvaardt’s authoritative century set the agenda, and Kapp’s incisive bowling finished the job. The combination of batting depth and aggressive seam bowling underpinned the comprehensive victory.

As South Africa prepares for the final, their performance against England has marked them out as one of the tournament’s most complete teams, blending individual brilliance with collective resolve.