This is the first time in history that South Africa women’s cricket team has reached the final of the ODI World Cup. South Africa defeated England by 125 runs in the first semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 played at the ACA Stadium. Batting first, South Africa scored 319 runs, the highest runs for the team were scored by captain Laura Wolvaardt (169). Chasing the target, England collapsed for 194 runs, Marijne Kapp’s bowling was lethal, she took 5 wickets for just 20 runs in her spell of 7 overs. Wolvaardt was chosen player of the match.

England’s third wicket fell for 1 run

In the Women’s World Cup semi-finals, England had a target of 320 runs to win, chasing which the start was very bad. Marijne Kapp bowled England’s wicket-keeper batsman Amy Jones on the second ball of the first over. Marijne had also sent Heather Knight to the pavilion on the 5th ball of the first over. On the first ball of the very next over, Ayabanga Khaka dismissed Tammy Beaumont and took England’s third wicket. England had lost 3 wickets for 1 run, the top 3 batsmen could not even open their account.

Century partnership between Natalie and Capsie

After the fall of 3 wickets for 1 run, the century partnership between captain Natalie Siver and Alice Capsey kept England’s hopes of going to the final alive. Both of them made a partnership of 107 runs for the fourth wicket. Sune Luus broke this partnership and dismissed Capsy. Capsy scored 50 runs in 71 balls. After this, captain Natalie also returned to the pavilion, she scored 64 runs in 76 balls with the help of 1 six and 6 fours. He was dismissed by Marizanne Kapp.

Marijne Kapp’s ‘Five Wicket Hall’

Marijne Kapp took her 5th wicket of this match in the 31st over. He took 5 wickets for just 20 runs in his spell of 7 overs. Linsey Smith hit some good shots in the end, she was out after scoring 27 runs. This was the 10th wicket of England’s innings, which came in the 43rd over. England’s innings collapsed for 194 runs, South Africa entered the final by winning the semi-final by a huge margin of 125 runs.

Wolvaardt played a historic inning, South Africa scored 319 runs

For South Africa, captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Britts made a century partnership (116) for the first wicket. Sophie Ecclestone broke the pair in the 23rd over, when she bowled Britsch (45). In the same over, Sophie also bowled Annie Bosch, South Africa suffered one setback after another. His third wicket fell at the score of 119 in the form of Sune Loos.

After this, captain Laura along with Marijne Kapp made a partnership of 72 runs for the fourth wicket. Laura Wolvaardt played a historic inning of 169 runs before getting out. This is his 10th century in ODI and first century in the World Cup.

For England, Sophie Ecclestone took 4 wickets for 44 runs in a spell of 10 overs. Lauren took 2 wickets for 55 runs in 10 overs. One wicket was taken by captain Natalie Siver.

South Africa took revenge

South Africa has also taken revenge for the previous edition. In the last World Cup (2022), England defeated South Africa in the semi-finals. Laura Wolvaardt could not open her account in that semi-final, Marijne Kapp was also in that match, she scored 21 runs and took 2 wickets.

South Africa women’s cricket team captain Laura Wolvaardt played a memorable inning of 169 runs in the World Cup semi-final against England. In this match held at ACA Stadium, England won the toss and decided to bowl first. Wolvaardt made a century partnership (116) for the first wicket with Tazmin Brits, the captain did not stop even after Brits was out. She was out on the last ball of the 48th over.

Laura Wolvaardt scored the 10th century of her ODI career, this was her first century in the World Cup. Wolvaardt scored 169 runs in 143 balls in the semi-final against England. In this innings played with a strike of more than 118, he hit 4 sixes and 20 fours. That means he scored 104 runs (80 runs from fours and 24 runs from sixes) from boundaries.

Laura Wolvaardt equals Mithali Raj

It was only when Wolvaardt completed 50 runs that she equaled Mithali Raj in a big record. For the 13th time, Wolvaardt played an inning of more than 50 runs in the ODI World Cup. Earlier, Mithali Raj was the one to score the most number of innings of more than 50 runs in the ODI World Cup, she also did this 13 times.

The first South African batsman to do so

In this memorable inning of 169 runs, Laura Wolvaardt also completed 5000 runs of her ODI career. She is the first South African woman player to score 5000 runs in ODIs.

In the first semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025, South Africa, batting first, set a target of 319 runs for England to win. Chloe Tryon (33) and Marijne Kapp (42) also played good innings. Kapp also did wonders in bowling, he gave a great start to South Africa by taking 2 wickets in the very first over of the semi-final.

England’s wicket-keeper batsman Amy Jones was out on the second ball of the first over. After this, Heather Knight, who came at number three, also became the victim of Marijne Kapp, both the batsmen could not open the account. England lost its third wicket on the very first ball of the second over. England’s top 3 batsmen were out for just 1 run.