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Team South Africa celebrates after securing the place in finals in Women’s world Cup cricket in Guwahati on October 29, 2025. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
Wolvaardt singlehandedly pushed South Africa to a formidable 319 for seven with an epic 169 off 143 balls, negating the influence of two mini collapses brought on by left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
Four-time champions England wanted to tug off a report chase to achieve one other summit conflict however Kapp, after doing her bit with the bat, broke the opposition again with a five-wicket haul, limiting them to 194 in 42.3 overs. “Still feels a bit unreal. You dream as a child of scoring 100 in a World Cup knock-out recreation,” Wolvaardt stated on the post-match presentation ceremony after receiving the ‘Player of The Match’ award.
“This most likely must be proper on the prime contemplating the context, a World Cup semi-final. It is correct up there,” she added.
The Proteas ladies had performed back-to-back T20 World Cup finals however misplaced on each events.
On a floor with loads of runs, Kapp bought the ball to seam each methods. England had been up in opposition to it from the primary over of the chase when Kapp removed Amy Jones and the skilled former skipper Heather Knight.
Jones was crushed by a ball that seamed backed in whereas Knight performed a large ball on to her stumps, leaving Kapp all fired up.
England Nat-Sciver Brunt (64 off 76) and Alice Capsey (50 off 71) tried to resurrect the innings with a 107 run stand when the latter was caught at mid on Sune Luus, it appeared all however over for them.
It was Kapp who delivered the knock out punch by having the damaging Sciver-Brunt caught behind. At 151 for eight, the sport was solely heading South Africa’s means.
The second semifinal will likely be performed between India and Australia in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Put in to bat, South Africa set the platform for a 300 plus complete with a 116-run stand between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (45 off 65). However, Ecclestone (4/44) caught twice within the 22rd over to place the brakes on South Africa scoring charge.
A 72-run stand between Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp (42 off 33) adopted earlier than Ecclestone broke a threatening partnership as soon as achieve. At 202 for six, South Africa appeared to be heading for a beneath par complete however Wolvaardt took her chic recreation to the following stage to fireside her staff previous the 300-run mark.
The first half of her innings was rather a lot about her regal drives by means of the off-side earlier than she focused the midwicket boundary in opposition to the England pacers and spinners to make sure South Africa regained the momentum. Her innings comprised 17 fours and three maximums.
Wolvaardt, who has 184 as her highest ODI rating, took left-arm spinner Linsey Smith to the cleaners within the forty seventh over yielding 20 runs..
Batting with a widish stance, Wolvaardt was fast to dispatch balls on the leg-side. She introduced up her 150 with a six over mid-wicket and likewise accomplished 5000 ODI through the course of her marathon knock.
Chloe Tryon (33 not out off 26) and Nadine de Klerk (11 not out off 6) did the needful in the direction of the top of the innings. The final 10 overs yielded 117 runs for the Proteas ladies.
Their batting efficiency was a far cry from their 69 all out in opposition to the identical opponent within the league stage of the event.
Published – October 29, 2025 04:20 pm IST
