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.
Posting 319-7, South Africa then bowled out England for 194 in 42.3 overs with medium pace bowler Marizanne Kapp returning 5-20 in the first semi-final in Guwahati.
The Proteas now await the winner of the other semi-final between holders Australia and India for the title showdown on Sunday on the outskirts of Mumbai.
South Africa reached their third consecutive Women’s World Cup final – two in T20 tournaments – and their first in the 50-over marquee 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 final wicket, sparking celebrations in the South African camp.
Wolvaardt set up victory with her maiden World Cup century as she laid the foundation for the mammoth total in a 116-run stand with fellow opener Tazmin Brits, who made 45.
Wolvaardt reached her 10th ODI ton and then shifted gears to take the attack to the opposition in the final few overs, finishing with 20 fours and four sixes in her 143-ball spell.
She topped the tournament’s batting chart with 470 runs, including one hundred and three half tons in eight matches.
The elegant batter started with a crisp cover drive 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 capped South Africa’s wave with two wickets in one over when she bowled the Brits for 45 and three balls later sent Anneke Bosch back for a duck.
England batted regularly but Wolvaardt stood firm and forged key partnerships with Kapp who hit 42 and then Chloe Tryon who made an unbeaten 33.
Wolvaardt finally fell in the 48th over by Bell and walked back to a standing ovation and handshakes from the opposing players.
Ecclestone stood out with figures of 4-44 after she was cleared to play despite suffering a shoulder injury in the previous game.
South Africa pace spearhead Kapp rattled England with two wickets in the first over as she bowled Amuy Jones and Heather Knight – both out 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, England’s innings fell apart.
Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with 64, and Capsey, who made 50, put on 107 runs for the third wicket, but after their departure the South African bowlers hit back.
Kapp denied Sciver-Brunt and then had Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean caught behind to be on a hat-trick which was avoided by Ecclestone.
