Proteas overcame an early setback to beat England and secure their place in the final. Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey will rue their missed opportunities when they heaved at mid-off in Sune Luus’ over, only for them to be caught out of bounds by Sune Luus’ fielder.
Marizanne Kapp then produced an astonishing run of wickets for the South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Vs England Women’s National Cricket Team, taking down Jones and Knight with nip backers before bowling Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean.
| Date | Match | Result | Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 2025 | World Cup Semi-Final – Guwahati | South Africa Women won | 125 runs | Wolvaardt 169 helped SA post 319/7; Kapp 5-20 restricted ENG to 194. (ESPN) |
| 03 Oct 2025 | World Cup Group Match – Guwahati | England Women won | 10 wickets | ENG chased 70+ target with ease; Smith starred with ball. |
| 11 Dec 2024 | ODI, Potchefstroom | England Women won | 6 wickets (DLS) | Rain-adjusted target; Beaumont top-scored. |
| 08 Dec 2024 | ODI, Durban | England Women won | 6 wickets | England chased down SA total. |
| 04 Dec 2024 | ODI, Kimberley | South Africa Women won | 6 wickets | SA chased ENG target with solid batting. (ESPN) |
South Africa vs. England
After an uneven start in Group Stage, England Women (ENG W) have come on strong in League stage, finishing second on points table and winning five out of their seven league games – winning all six league games they were involved with and five semi-final matches against South Africa Women (SA W). Wednesday will present them with another daunting test as they face South Africa Women in Semi Final.
Laura Wolvaardt made an outstanding 169 from just 143 balls at the top of South Africa’s order to help the Proteas post an impressive 319-7 in Guwahati and give their opponents their first World Cup semi final loss since 2009.
Marizanne Kapp (5-20) then got off to an exceptional start, dismissing Amy Jones and Heather Knight within seven balls to reduce England to just three runs before Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk were finally dismissed for just 125 to give South Africa an emphatic victory at home.
Nat Sciver-Brunt will hope that her side can replicate their group stage form and advance all the way to Sunday’s final. Sciver-Brunt has been on an outstanding run of form, scoring over 200 runs across her seven matches at this tournament – she currently sits as top run scorer.
Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight have been among the more consistent batspeople, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone’s spin play has brought stability for England Women. Sinalo Jafta could also feature should Sciver-Brunt decide to go with an additional seamer in her team.
1st Test
Laura Wolvaardt scored an unbeaten 169 off just 143 deliveries – the highest score ever at any World Cup – to help South Africa set an unprecedented target of 194. Sophie Ecclestone made her return from shoulder surgery and took four wickets for England; but by this stage it was too late.
Ayabonga Khaka took two wickets in one over from Sune Luus and Dean as England collapsed to 113-4. Chloe Tryon offered some respite for England, while Marizanne Kapp’s unstoppable bat was responsible for reaching her first World Cup fifty and scoring six boundaries within one over!
Kapp then sent England on their way, with Sophia Dunkley falling lbw for just two balls against Ayabonga Khaka’s nip-backer and Tammy Beaumont edging Ayabonga Khaka to long-on. Alice Capsey reached her maiden ODI fifty but threw away her wicket with an unnecessary reckless chip to mid-off after having been dropped on 28.
Wolvaardt’s powerful batting helped the Proteas reach their first 50-over final ever for both men’s and women’s cricket, but England were left reeling as their opponent outplayed them completely. Now facing either Australia or India in their next match.
England had previously lost to India at the 2011 World Cup; their loss at Guwahati on Thursday cost them the opportunity to advance further than that stage and qualify for semi-finals if they won.
2nd Test
Laura Wolvaardt scored an unforgettable 169 off 143 balls as South Africa advanced to the Women’s World Cup final with an emphatic 125-run win against England at Guwahati.
South Africa were reeling at 202-6 when Wolvaardt unleashed her power, cutting through their innings like butter.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey enjoyed an unbroken partnership of 105 runs before Nat was caught by Sophie Ecclestone at mid-off off Ayabonga Khaka and Tammy Beaumont wafted a loose ball back to short third man off Ayabonga Khaka.
Wolvaardt then unleashed her devastating strokes to take down England to 319-7 from 50 overs, setting an English record total score.
Kapp, England’s ultimate competitor, then tore through their middle order by dismissing Amy Jones and Heather Knight within successive overs before taking another scalp with an edge off Sophia Dunkley nip backer nip-backer off Sophia Dunkley for three. Charlie Dean too was dismissed lbw as Proteas took an overwhelming lead in their pursuit of 194.
3rd Test
Laura Wolvaardt made one of the greatest one-day centuries to put South Africa in an advantageous position against England.
Her 169 from 143 balls laid the foundation for South Africa’s record-breaking 319-7 score against their record-setting English opponents. England began their run chase slowly, with Sophie Ecclestone, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight falling without scoring a run each.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey breathed life back into the chase by reaching fifty in one-day internationals for England – with Alice Capsey reaching her maiden fifty score.
However, their efforts were in vain as England were dismissed in the 23rd over when Capsey drove a Sune Luus delivery straight to mid-off and drove her bat directly at mid-off for her dismissal – initiating another batting collapse, with Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean also falling cheaply before Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Smith making late cameo appearances before all England were all out for 194.
South Africa bowled brilliantly during the middle overs to keep England at bay, thanks to Marizanne Kapp’s pace despite suffering shoulder injury. Kapp was crucial in keeping England from scoring runs early as she took 3-44 and struck fear into England’s top order, trapping Jones behind off Ayabonga Khaka and Knight leg before to Sinalo Jafta respectively before dismissing Beaumont attempting to drive Sune Luus ball and Annerie Dercksen both within one over and reaching five-for-20 in an ODI semi-final. Her efforts ensured South Africa would advance and ultimately face either Australia or India final match-up.
4th Test
Marizanne Kapp put an end to England’s comeback hopes as she sent Jones into an early exit with a quick nip-backer off the second ball and Knight into an immediate one with a straight drive off three balls later. Kapp displayed fierce competition throughout, taunting the crowd with brilliant displays that taunted them further.
South Africans were in complete control from the outset as they reduced the home side to just 69 runs in their opening innings. Wolvaardt batted unbeaten from just 102 deliveries as she led her side’s powerplay with four sixes and eight fours off 27 balls alone – an extraordinary performance!
Kapp added Sophia Dunkley (2) and Charlie Dean (0) to her tally as England lost an innings after just two overs, falling from 138-4 to 194-9 within an over. Sciver-Brunt attempted to bring stability back into England’s chase but was caught off a drive from Luus which found Nadine de Klerk at mid-off.
Tryon made the first breakthrough for England when she hit an elegant drive over extra cover for four, before hitting another boundary off Mlaba for six runs – but even Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Linsey Smith could not save England from failing to reach their first World Cup 50-over final since 2015. Kapp finished with five wickets to overtake India’s Jhulan Goswami as leading wicket-taker of Women’s World Cup history.
5th Test
Wolvaardt delivered one of the greatest 50-over innings ever seen to put South Africa completely in control. Her majestic cover drive over midwicket in the seventh over was an outstanding start and continued her assault with all kinds of strokes throughout. England were no match.
She had an opportunity to add to her total in the following over when she drove Sune Luus straight to mid-off, but that was her only blunder during a masterful performance that yielded eight fours and two sixes from 33 balls for an innings totaling 68 from 33 deliveries and leaving England reeling.
Amy Jones was bowled by a nip-backer, while Tammy Beaumont chased at an over from Ayabonga Khaka for ducks. However, Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey managed to maintain their cool to prevent further Kapp attacks before Kapp struck again.
De Klerk was instrumental in England’s defeat as Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean were caught behind before taking four wickets in 31 overs, leaving England reeling. Finally, De Klerk clipped Danni Wyatt-Hodge straight to Tumi Sekhukune at deep midwicket as all out total was 194. An emphatic win left South Africa in the last four and with real chances to claim their first World Cup trophy since 2010.
