Two of South Africa’s greatest cricketers, Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp, rose to the occasion to deliver career-defining performances in a 125-run semi-final victory over England. The win breaks South Africa’s semi-final jinx and sends them to a maiden 50-over World Cup final.
Captain Wolvaardt was the star with the bat, scoring a magnificent 169. Her innings was a masterclass in pacing, starting with a 115-ball century before she unleashed an incredible 28-ball, 69-run blitzkrieg to close the innings.
Her assault, which included four sixes and a 20-run over, rocketed South Africa to 319 for seven. This came after England’s Sophie Ecclestone (four wickets) had given her team hope by reducing the Proteas to 202 for six.
Chasing the second-highest total in a World Cup knockout game, England’s batters folded. Marizanne Kapp produced a devastating opening spell, starting with a double-wicket maiden to leave England at one for three, with their top three batters all failing to score.
Kapp, who also became the all-time leading wicket-taker in 50-over World Cups, returned to take five for 20, ending England’s resistance and sealing a famous victory. It was a day of redemption and history for the South African team.