South Africa overcame a significant mid-innings wobble to post a dominant total and secure a 125-run semi-final victory over England. After looking strong at 116 for none, they lost six wickets for 86 runs before captain Laura Wolvaardt’s heroic 169 steered them to 319 for seven.
Sophie Ecclestone was the architect of the wobble, taking four wickets. She bowled Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch, who was bowled for a duck, to trigger a slide from 116 for zero to 202 for six.
But Wolvaardt, who had just reached her century, launched a stunning counter-attack. She added 69 runs in 28 balls, ensuring the wobble was a distant memory as the total soared past 300.
England’s chase was then decimated by Marizanne Kapp. She claimed a double-wicket maiden to leave England at one for three, a position from which they never recovered.
Kapp finished with five for 20, becoming the all-time leading World Cup wicket-taker. It was a comprehensive win that sends South Africa to their first-ever 50-over World Cup final.