4
0
4
1
0
0
= 9
Match Details
ENG-W vs SA-W, 1st Semi Final ODI, Women's WC 2025 live
ENG-W
194-10(42.3)
South Africa Women won by 125 runs 🏆
SA-W
(50.0)319-7
+
P'ship : 0(0)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
Right then. The first semi-final is done and dusted and South Africa become the first team to qualify for the final of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025. The second semi-final will be held tomorrow in Navi Mumbai between India and Australia. It's a high-octane contest. Do join us for that.
For now, it's time for us to take your leave. This is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Pritam Dey, scorer Zeeshan Naiyer and statistician Aman. Until next time, cheers and good bye.
For now, it's time for us to take your leave. This is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Pritam Dey, scorer Zeeshan Naiyer and statistician Aman. Until next time, cheers and good bye.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa Women Captain): "Very special. Everyone's really excited. Obviously having lost to this team in the last two editions of the World Cup in the semis, I am really pleased to get the win tonight.
(Did that 69 all out come in her mind?) It did a little bit. Same opposition, same venue and your mind automatically goes back to that game. I think losing the toss wasn't the worst thing in the world. I still probably would have looked to bowl though but yeah, I think it turned out pretty alright. Runs on the board in a knockout game always turns out to be crucial. I was not sure whether we got enough runs because it turned out to be a flat wicket over there. Really happy with the way our bowlers bowled.
I think it was a game of nice partnerships. Taz (Brits) and I started really well. We found things really easy in the middle. We sort of lost a couple of quick wickets but Kappy (Kapp) was just amazing. She took all the pressure off me. I dipped a bit in that phase but she just kept going which took all the pressure off me. Knowing what we had in the shed for the last 10 overs, I thought I better have a swing and happy with the way it ended.
No. I think they were 0/2 and then 1/3. That's something you don't expect. I think Kappy was just phenomenal. To see her pick up a five-wicket haul is just amazing and the way she batted as well. I think we still felt the pressure out there as long as Nat (Sciver-Brunt) was there. It really looked like it could go either way but happy to get over the line.
(On Marizanne Kapp) So special. I think throughout the tournament, she has been finding her way with the ball and in this game, she was right back on it. She looked absolutely amazing. I think that first wicket which she got will get any batter out. Amazing to see her bowling like that and also to have her experience in the group as well helps us a lot. And also what she offers with the bat is also amazing. She is a 2 in 1 player.
(On being a bunch of history makers) Very special. It's a very special format and with the way the tournament has been played. It's a very fair way of doing a competition. We have played some very good cricket over the month and I am proud of the group.
(On what to improve ahead of the Final) Yep, I think that will be an amazing game either way. Whether it's India in front of a packed crowd or the world champs Australia. We will celebrate this tonight and then go back to the drawing board."
(Did that 69 all out come in her mind?) It did a little bit. Same opposition, same venue and your mind automatically goes back to that game. I think losing the toss wasn't the worst thing in the world. I still probably would have looked to bowl though but yeah, I think it turned out pretty alright. Runs on the board in a knockout game always turns out to be crucial. I was not sure whether we got enough runs because it turned out to be a flat wicket over there. Really happy with the way our bowlers bowled.
I think it was a game of nice partnerships. Taz (Brits) and I started really well. We found things really easy in the middle. We sort of lost a couple of quick wickets but Kappy (Kapp) was just amazing. She took all the pressure off me. I dipped a bit in that phase but she just kept going which took all the pressure off me. Knowing what we had in the shed for the last 10 overs, I thought I better have a swing and happy with the way it ended.
No. I think they were 0/2 and then 1/3. That's something you don't expect. I think Kappy was just phenomenal. To see her pick up a five-wicket haul is just amazing and the way she batted as well. I think we still felt the pressure out there as long as Nat (Sciver-Brunt) was there. It really looked like it could go either way but happy to get over the line.
(On Marizanne Kapp) So special. I think throughout the tournament, she has been finding her way with the ball and in this game, she was right back on it. She looked absolutely amazing. I think that first wicket which she got will get any batter out. Amazing to see her bowling like that and also to have her experience in the group as well helps us a lot. And also what she offers with the bat is also amazing. She is a 2 in 1 player.
(On being a bunch of history makers) Very special. It's a very special format and with the way the tournament has been played. It's a very fair way of doing a competition. We have played some very good cricket over the month and I am proud of the group.
(On what to improve ahead of the Final) Yep, I think that will be an amazing game either way. Whether it's India in front of a packed crowd or the world champs Australia. We will celebrate this tonight and then go back to the drawing board."
Nat Sciver-Brunt (England Women Captain): "What an incredible two innings from South Africa. We weren't at our best today. Hugely disappointed. It will take some time to sink in. But disappointed.
I also think during the powerplay and afterwards, we didn't let the game go too far. Having spin from one end and keeping it tight was good but they had that one partnership.
She had the best of the conditions. She knew what she was doing. Explosive batters were coming next and it was hard for us. We did well as a side. Didn't let the occasion get the better of us on the field.
Kappie (Kapp) bowled some incredible deliveries. It wasn't easy to get out there and trying to bat like Wolvaardt did. It was not ideal losing three quick wickets. It made the chase hard. Me and Capsey tried to build a partnership but it was way far off than what we would have liked.
I think we have come a long way since the summer. We pride ourselves on that. Obviously, this will hurt but we will try to learn from this and move forward. To beat the best teams, you have to be at your best."
I also think during the powerplay and afterwards, we didn't let the game go too far. Having spin from one end and keeping it tight was good but they had that one partnership.
She had the best of the conditions. She knew what she was doing. Explosive batters were coming next and it was hard for us. We did well as a side. Didn't let the occasion get the better of us on the field.
Kappie (Kapp) bowled some incredible deliveries. It wasn't easy to get out there and trying to bat like Wolvaardt did. It was not ideal losing three quick wickets. It made the chase hard. Me and Capsey tried to build a partnership but it was way far off than what we would have liked.
I think we have come a long way since the summer. We pride ourselves on that. Obviously, this will hurt but we will try to learn from this and move forward. To beat the best teams, you have to be at your best."
Most Player of the Match awards for South Africa in Women’s ODIs:
12 – Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp
11 – Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee
10 – Dane van Niekerk
8 – Laura Wolvaardt*
6 – Chloe Tryon
12 – Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp
11 – Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee
10 – Dane van Niekerk
8 – Laura Wolvaardt*
6 – Chloe Tryon
Laura Wolvaardt (Player of the Match): "Still feels a bit unreal. As a kid you dream of scoring a hundred in the world cup and also in a world cup knockout game. Glad to get the win.
(Batting with Brits) Yeah, I knew the start would be crucial for us. I think Taz & I have been really strong up top and when we bat well, things become much easier for the other batters. We did identify it quite early that it was a decent wicket to bat on. We just wanted to keep going. Others batted really well. We wanted to post a big score as it was a flat wicket at the end.
I was just going with the momentum. In the back of my mind, I knew the shots I had in my book. My goal today was to hold things together and bat till the 40th over. I wanted to get till the 40th in order to allow Nadine, Chloe to whack in those last 10 overs. Then, I thought of swinging too and it worked out well.
(On this innings) This knock probably has to be right in the top. Scoring a hundred in a World Cup semi final is always special and also against a very strong side. It's right up there."
(Batting with Brits) Yeah, I knew the start would be crucial for us. I think Taz & I have been really strong up top and when we bat well, things become much easier for the other batters. We did identify it quite early that it was a decent wicket to bat on. We just wanted to keep going. Others batted really well. We wanted to post a big score as it was a flat wicket at the end.
I was just going with the momentum. In the back of my mind, I knew the shots I had in my book. My goal today was to hold things together and bat till the 40th over. I wanted to get till the 40th in order to allow Nadine, Chloe to whack in those last 10 overs. Then, I thought of swinging too and it worked out well.
(On this innings) This knock probably has to be right in the top. Scoring a hundred in a World Cup semi final is always special and also against a very strong side. It's right up there."
Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt
Best Bowling Figures for South Africa in Women’s ODI World Cups:
5/20 – Marizanne Kapp vs England, Guwahati, 2025, Tonight*
5/45 – Marizanne Kapp vs England, Mount Maunganui, 2022
5/67 – Sune Luus vs Australia, Taunton, 2017
5/20 – Marizanne Kapp vs England, Guwahati, 2025, Tonight*
5/45 – Marizanne Kapp vs England, Mount Maunganui, 2022
5/67 – Sune Luus vs Australia, Taunton, 2017
Most catches for South Africa in WODIs as an outfielder:
57* – Sune Luus
56 – Dane van Niekerk
44 – Chloe Tryon
42 – Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt
57* – Sune Luus
56 – Dane van Niekerk
44 – Chloe Tryon
42 – Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa in ODI World Cup Semi-Finals (Men’s & Women’s Combined):
Matches: 9
Won: 1
Lost: 7
Tied: 1 (vs Australia, 1999)
Matches: 9
Won: 1
Lost: 7
Tied: 1 (vs Australia, 1999)
Commentary