The World Cup semi-final was a tale of two captains, as South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt played a heroic innings of 169, while England’s Heather Knight was dismissed for a duck in a 125-run loss. The result sends South Africa to their first-ever 50-over World Cup final.
Wolvaardt was the match-winner. After patiently compiling a 115-ball century, she unleashed a devastating attack, scoring 69 runs from her final 28 balls to propel her team to 319 for seven.
In stark contrast, England’s chase, and Knight’s day, was a disaster. Marizanne Kapp delivered a brutal double-wicket maiden, bowling Amy Jones before Knight flailed at a wide ball and chopped onto her stumps.
This left England at one for three, a hole from which they could not recover. Kapp, who finished with five for 20, was relentless, also becoming the all-time leading World Cup wicket-taker.
Despite a maiden ODI fifty for Alice Capsey, England were bowled out for 194. It was a day of ultimate triumph for Wolvaardt and her team, and one of despair for Knight.