South Africa's Proteas women's cricket team secured a historic 125-run victory over England in the World Cup semi-final. Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 169, while Marizanne Kapp took five wickets for 20 runs. The win propels South Africa to their maiden final against the winner of India versus Australia.
In Guwahati, India, on October 29, 2025, South Africa posted 319 for seven after batting first, led by Laura Wolvaardt's sensational 169 off 143 balls. Wolvaardt, the Proteas captain, set the tone by hitting the first two deliveries for fours. Her innings featured a century off 115 balls with 12 fours, followed by an explosive phase where she scored 69 runs off the final 27 balls she faced, including four sixes and eight more fours. She was dismissed caught at long-on by a slower ball from Lauren Bell.
Opening partner Tazmin Brits contributed 45 off 65 balls, providing a solid start alongside Wolvaardt's elegant off-side strokes. After early wickets of Anneke Bosch (0 off 3) and Suné Luus (1 off 6), Marizanne Kapp added 42 off 33 balls, opting for aerial shots to rebuild. Further dismissals of Kapp, Sinalo Jafta (1 off 4), and Annerie Dercksen (4 off 14) tested the innings, but Chloe Tryon finished with 33 off 26, including three fours and a six.
England's chase crumbled under South Africa's bowling attack. Kapp struck immediately with a double-wicket maiden in her first over, removing Amy Jones (0 off 2), Tammy Beaumont (0 off 1), and later Heather Knight (0 off 3) in tandem with Ayabonga Khaka, taking three wickets for five runs in the first three overs. Natalie Sciver-Brunt (64 off 76) and Alice Capsey (50 off 71) built a 107-run partnership, but Kapp's second spell dismantled them: she dismissed Sciver-Brunt caught behind, then Sophia Dunkley (2 off 10) and Charlie Dean (0 off 1) with another double-wicket maiden. England were all out for 194, with Sophie Ecclestone taking 4-44.
Post-match, Kapp reflected on the team's composure: “There was calmness in the group this morning for some reason. We just felt like what will happen will happen. Once we lost the toss, I was actually happy that we batted first.” This marks South Africa's first Women's Cricket World Cup final appearance, set for Sunday against the winner of Thursday's India-Australia semi-final.