Akshay Thakur - Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025Women's ODI World Cup 2025: South Africa defeated England in the first semi-final to reach the final of the Women's World Cup 2025. Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp performed brilliantly.
This is the first time in history that the South African 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, with captain Laura Wolvaardt (169) scoring the most runs for the team. Chasing the target, England were bundled out for 194 runs.
Marizanne Kapp's bowling was lethal, taking 5 wickets for just 20 runs in her 7-over spell. Wolvaardt was named Player of the Match.
Chasing a target of 320, England got off to a disastrous start in the Women's World Cup semi-final. Marizanne Kapp bowled England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones with the second ball of the first over. Marizanne also dismissed Heather Knight with the fifth ball of the first over. Ayabanga Khaka took England's third wicket by dismissing Tammy Beaumont with the first ball of the next over. England lost three wickets for 1 run, and their top three batsmen failed to score.
After losing three wickets for one run, a century partnership between captain Natalie Sciver and Alice Capsey kept England's hopes of reaching the final alive. The two added 107 runs for the fourth wicket. This partnership was broken by Sune Luus, who dismissed Capsey. Capsey scored 50 runs off 71 balls. Captain Natalie then departed after scoring 64 runs off 76 balls, including one six and six fours. She was dismissed by Marizanne Kapp.
Marizanne Kapp took her fifth wicket of the match in the 31st over. She took five wickets for just 20 runs in her seven-over spell. Linsey Smith played some good shots towards the end and was dismissed for 27 runs. This was England's tenth wicket of the innings, which fell in the 43rd over. England were bowled out for 194, and South Africa won the semi-final by a huge margin of 125 runs to enter the final.
For South Africa, captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tasmin Brits put on a century partnership (116) for the first wicket. Sophie Ecclestone broke this partnership by dismissing Brits (45) in the 23rd over. In the same over, Sophie also bowled Anne Bosch, and South Africa suffered a series of setbacks. Their third wicket fell in the form of Sune Luus at the score of 119.
Captain Laura then shared a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Marizanne Kapp. Laura Wolvaardt played a historic innings of 169 runs before being dismissed. This was her 10th ODI century and her first century in the World Cup.
For England, Sophie Ecclestone took 4/44 in 10 overs. Lauren took 2/55 in 10 overs. Captain Natalie Sciver took one wicket.
