South Africa knock out 4-time champions England to enter 2025 Womens ODI World Cup final

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt slammed a sensational knock of 169 runs while the experienced Marizanne Kapp bagged a fifer with the ball to help South Africa hammer 4-time champions England by 125 runs in the first semi-final of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 and qualify for the final. The Proteas entered their maiden ODI World Cup final after their thumping victory at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first in the all-important clash, South Africa got off to a flying start, but lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle. However, Wolvaardt's maiden World Cup ton powered them to a huge total of 319/7 in 50 overs, the second-highest by any team in a knockout game in the Women's ODI World Cup history.

England were never in the chase after getting off to a disastrous start. They lost both their openers on ducks apiece in the very first over as Kapp rocked England with a double-wicket maiden at the start of their run chase. England also lost the experienced Heather Knight on a duck in the second over to be left reeling at 1/3.

They failed to recover from the woeful start despite half-centuries from skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey, and were eventually bowled out for 194 runs in 42.3 overs to bow out of the tournament. South Africa will now meet the winner of the second semi-final between India and Australia in their first-ever Women's ODI World Cup final on Sunday, November 02.

Skipper Wolvaardt delivered for South Africa in the crunch semi-final clash to take her side into their maiden Women's ODI World Cup final. Wolvaardt hammered a stunning 169 off 143 balls, which was laced with 20 fours and 4 sixes.

She combined with her opening partner, Tazmin Brits (45), to provide the Proteas with a strong start at the top with a 116-run stand for the first wicket. South Africa lost three wickets in quick succession to get reduced to 119/3 in the 26th over. However, Wolvaardt held one end strongly.

She joined hands with Kapp (42) to put on another important stand of 72 runs for the 4th wicket, before sharing a vital 89-run stand for the 7th wicket with Chloe Tryon, who finished with an unbeaten 33 and took the Proteas past the 300-run mark.

Woolvardt became the first captain to score a century in a knockout game in the Women's ODI World Cup and also registered the highest individual score by a South African batter in the knockout stage of the tournament. She also climbed to the top spot on the list of the highest run-getters in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup 20 far with 470 runs in 8 matches.

After Woolvardt's exploits with the bat, the experienced Kapp delivered a sensational spell with the ball to help South Africa make light work of four-time champions England in the semi-final. Kapp bowled a double-wicket maiden to get South Africa off to a dream start with the ball and ran through England's middle order to finish with excellent figures of 5/20 off her 7 overs.

Kapp was well supported by Nadine de Klerk, who picked up two wickets, including the important scalp of Danielle Wyatt. Thanks to Kapp's fifer, South Africa skittled out England for a paltry 194 to secure a big win and book a spot in the final. The Proteas will aim to lift their maiden World Cup when they take on the winner of 2nd semi-final between India and Australia in the final at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on November 02.