GUWAHATI: Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a majestic 169 to help South Africa beat England by 125 runs and reach their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final on Wednesday.
South Africa posted a tally of 319-7 and then bowled out England for 194 in 42.3 overs, with medium pace bowler Marizanne Kapp returning figures of 5-20 in the first semi-final in Guwahati.
The Proteas now await the winner of the second semi-final between defending champions Australia and India for Sunday’s title clash on the outskirts of Mumbai.
South Africa made their third consecutive Women’s World Cup final – two in T20 tournaments – and their first in the flagship 50-over competition.
They were beaten by England in the semi-finals of the last two ODI World Cups in 2017 and 2022.
Nadine de Klerk dismissed Linsey Smith for 27 as the latest wicket to spark celebrations in the South African camp.
Wolvaardt claimed victory with her maiden World Cup century as she laid the foundations for a mammoth total in a 116-run stand with compatriot Tazmin Brits, who made 45.
Wolvaardt reached his 10th ODI ton, then shifted gears to attack the opposition in the final overs, finishing with 20 fours and four sixes in his 143-ball knock.
She topped the tournament batting leaderboard with 470 runs, including one hundred and three half-tons in eight games.
The elegant batter started with a crisp cover from Lauren Bell for a four and the opening pair hit regular boundaries to put England on the back foot.
England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone curbed South Africa’s surge with two wickets in one as she bowled the British for 45 and three balls then dismissed Anneke Bosch for a duck.
England delivered regular blows, but Wolvaardt held firm and put together key partnerships with Kapp, who scored 42, and then Chloe Tryon, who made an unbeaten 33.
Wolvaardt finally went down in the 48th against Bell and returned to a standing ovation and handshakes from opposing players.
Ecclestone stood out with figures of 4-44 after being cleared to play despite suffering a shoulder injury in the previous match.
South Africa spearhead Kapp rocked England with two wickets in the first match as she faced Amuy Jones and Heather Knight – both for ducks.
Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Tammy Beaumont for a golden duck in the second over and despite a rearguard from skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey, the English innings collapsed.
Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with 64, and Capsey, who made 50, made 107 runs for the third wicket, but after they departed, the South African bowlers fought back.
Kapp sent Sciver-Brunt back, then had Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean behind to complete a hat-trick, which was kept out by Ecclestone.
