At the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Laura Wolvaardt and Marisanne Kapp led South Africa to a 125-run victory in Guwahati, but England were eliminated in the semi-finals.
Wolvaardt smashed 169 off 143 deliveries, the highest score by a South African player in the Women’s World Cup, as the Proteas recovered from 202-6 after losing the toss to post a commanding 319-7 in 50 overs.
Kapp made a dream start with the ball, adding 42 runs on the fast-break and removing Amy Jones and Heather Knight with a double-wicket maiden. Tammy Beaumont was then also dismissed without scoring, and England were slumping at 1-3 after chasing just seven balls.
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England lost three wickets in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa due to an early batting collapse.
Nat Cyber-Brunt, 64, led the fightback and played a close 107-run battle with Alice Capsey, 50, who fell just after completing her half-century, but Kapp returned to remove the England captain and spark another flurry of wickets.
Danny Wyatt Hodge, 34, and Lindsay Smith, 27, were offered second-half cameos before England were eventually dismissed for 194 in 43 overs as South Africa progressed to face either Australia or India in Sunday’s final.
How South Africa reached the World Cup finals
South Africa were skittled for 69 when the teams met in the group stage, but they surpassed that total within 13 overs, with Wolvaardt reaching his fourth consecutive World Cup half-century from just 52 deliveries as part of a strong opener with Tazmin Blitz.
Their partnership ended when the Englishman, 45, was bowled aiming to reverse-sweep Ecclestone (4-44), who has overcome a shoulder injury to remain in the England squad, and Anneke Bosch, brought on as an extra batsman, bowled scoreless in the same over.
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A great over from Sophie Ecclestone’s bowling. She took two big wickets and halted South Africa’s early innings.
In the next over, Soon Roos tried to pull on Shiver Brunt and she bowled South Africa to 119-3, with Marisanne Kapp adding 42 from 33 deliveries, but she was caught by Dean, who tried to force Ecclestone to the ground.
Sinalo Hafta (1) was bowled by Lauren Bell and Wolvaardt completed his maiden World Cup century before Derksen (4) was bowled out in an attempt to reverse sweep Ecclestone.
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The best moments of Laura Wolvaardt’s historic century during South Africa’s World Cup win over England in Guwahati
Wolvaardt’s sensational acceleration allowed her to hit Lindsay Smith for the fourth time in a row, and her incredible inning ended with a long-on hit off Capsey. Meanwhile, Chloe Tryon (33 for 26) and Nadine de Klerk (11 for 6), who made a cameo appearance in the final stages, set a record goal for England.
Kapp (5-20) bowled Jones and Knight scoreless to send South Africa into dreamland. Tammy Beaumont chased Ayabonga Kaka and took just seven deliveries to take England to three down.
Capsey was dropped by Shangase for 28 at long-on, Siver-Brant narrowly avoided a run-out on the same delivery, and the English pair survived a scare to cross 100 and complete their half-century in the 22nd over.
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South Africa’s Nondumiso Shangase drops England’s Alice Capsey before Nat Cyber Brunt is nearly run out with the same delivery
The same Roos saw Capsey crawl up the ground in midfield to try and find de Klerk, but England’s hopes were further extinguished when Siver-Brant beat the cup to make it 138-5.
Kapp became the leading wicket-taker in this year’s World Cup, removing Sophia Dunkley (2) and Charlie Dean (0) with successive deliveries. Mlaba found Ecclestone (2) deep and caught by Derksen, forcing England to eight down.
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South Africa took back-to-back wickets against England to take further control in the semi-final
Wyatt Hodge’s innings ended when he picked out Tumi Sekhuhune in the deep and Smith fell for the final wicket, both falling to de Klerk, sealing South Africa’s place in the final for the first time in their history.
Siver-Brant pays tribute to ‘incredible’ South Africa
England captain Nat Silver-Brunt told Sky Sports Cricket:
“What a great second innings South Africa had. We weren’t at our best today and to beat the best teams you need to put the whole game together. We couldn’t do that today. We are very disappointed. It will take time to understand the situation.”
“During the powerplay and after (South Africa’s innings) we were pretty happy with our control and knew that with a wicket at one end we would be able to make some inroads, but they were also able to forge new partnerships.”
England head coach Charlotte Edwards told Sky Sports Cricket:
“I think two players, Marisanne Cupp and Laura Wolvaardt, performed really well on the big stage. If someone shoots 169 with five fours, you can’t be on the winning side so many times.
“Wahlwaardt’s innings was great and the thing about Kapp’s bowling is… she always steps up. The players gave it their all today but it wasn’t for us. We’ll have things to think about after this, but I’d like to thank South Africa for what they did.”
Player of the Match, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt:
“(Scoring 169 points) still feels a little unreal. Scoring 100 points in the final tournament of the World Cup is something you dream about as a kid. It’s a very special day and I’m very happy to finally win.”
“We knew the start was going to be important. Taz (the Englishman) and I have been coming up through the ranks and when you bat at the top of the order it transfers to the rest of the batting line-up. It was a flat wicket at the end so it was really nice to get the big score.”
What’s next?
The other Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final will be played on Thursday, with Australia taking on co-hosts India in Navi Mumbai (live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9am, first pitch at 9.30am).
The winner will face South Africa in Sunday’s final, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9am (first pitch at 9.30am). Stream cricket, soccer, golf and more now with no contract.
