Laura Wolvaardt produced a devastating 28-ball explosion of power-hitting to catapult South Africa into their first-ever 50-over World Cup final, securing a 125-run victory over a shell-shocked England. Her late charge transformed the game, turning a competitive total into an imposing fortress.
For much of the innings, Wolvaardt played a measured role, taking 115 balls to bring up a crucial century while wickets tumbled around her. At 202 for six, England, led by Sophie Ecclestone’s four wickets, looked to be in control and poised to restrict South Africa to a manageable chase.
But the South African captain then unleashed a superb display of boundary-striking. She added a stunning 69 runs in her final 28 deliveries, finishing on 169. She hammered four sixes straight down the ground and savaged Linsey Smith for 20 runs in the 47th over, leaving England’s death-bowling plans in ruins.
Set an imposing 320 to win, England’s reply was catastrophic. Marizanne Kapp began with a double-wicket maiden, bowling Amy Jones with a “nip-backer” and tempting Heather Knight into chopping on. The score plunged to one for three, a hole too deep for any team to escape.
Kapp wasn’t finished, returning to the attack to claim three more wickets and finish with five for 20. While Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt staged a 107-run partnership, Kapp’s relentless seam bowling proved too much, sealing a historic and dominant win for the Proteas.