South Africa clinched 125-run victory over England in the first semifinal at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, securing their first-ever final appearance in the 50-over World Cup showpiece. The win could be deemed a redemption for the Proteas, who had been humiliated by the same opponent at the same venue earlier in the tournament, bowled out for a mere 69.
Asked to bat first, Wolvaardt rose to the occasion, delivering 169 off 143 balls that guided South Africa to a total of 319/7; the second-highest score in World Cup knockout history. Her innings, which included 20 fours and four sixes, was a blend of trademark cover drives early on and leg-side assault in the closing overs. After reaching her maiden ODI World Cup ton off 115 balls, she accelerated, smashing her last 69 runs off just 28 deliveries.
She formed various partnerships with players, squezzeing out 117 runs in the final 10 overs. England's left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, playing through a shoulder injury, led her side's bowling effort with figures of 4 for 44. With Lauren Bell joining in for another two wickets.
England's reply got off to a catastrophic start, losing their first three wickets for just one run. Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the very first over, dismissing Amy Jones and Heather Knight. Ayabonga Khaka made it three ducks in a row for England with the wicket of Tammy Beaumont in the second over.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, 64, and Alice Capsey, 50 , held on the the fight with a 107-run partnership, briefly raising hopes for the four-time champions. However, Kapp returned to dismiss Sciver-Brunt, delivering the night's most telling blow and effectively ending England's chase.
Wolvaardt, who was awarded the Player of the Match, reflected on the win: "It still feels a bit unreal. You dream as a kid of scoring a hundred in a World Cup knock-out game... This probably has to be right at the top considering the context, a World Cup semi-final. It is right up there,". South Africa now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between India and Australia for the title clash on Sunday.
Kapp finished with a magnificent 5 for 20, surpassing former India veteran Jhulan Goswami's tally to become the highest wicket-taker in the history of the Women’s ODI World Cup with 44 scalps. The win saw England bowled out for 194 in 42.3 overs. The result is a fitting climax to South Africa's tournament campaign, which saw them bounce back from the initial 69 all-out defeat with a five-match winning run.
