South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Danni Wyatt Cricket throughout the ICC Girls’s World Cup semi-final on the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, India, October 29, 2025. — Reuters
GUWAHATI: Laura Wolvaardt led from the entrance with an imposing 169 to assist South Africa thrash England by 125 runs and attain their first-ever ODI Girls’s World Cup ultimate on Wednesday.
South Africa posted 319-7 after which bowled out England for 194 in 42.3 overs with medium-pace bowler Marizanne Kapp returning figures of 5-20 within the first semi-final in Guwahati.
The Proteas now await the winner of the second semi-final between holders Australia and India for the title conflict on Sunday within the outskirts of Mumbai.
South Africa made their third straight ultimate of a Girls’s World Cup — two in T20 tournaments — and their first within the 50-over marquee competitors.
They had been overwhelmed by England within the semi-finals of the final two ODI World Cups in 2017 and 2022.
Nadine de Klerk dismissed Linsey Smith for 27 because the final wicket to set off celebrations within the South African camp.
Wolvaardt arrange victory together with her first World Cup century as she lay the foundations of the mammoth whole in a 116-run stand with fellow opener Tazmin Brits, who made 45.
Wolvaardt reached her tenth ODI ton after which switched gears to take the assault to the opposition within the ultimate few overs, ending with 20 fours and 4 sixes in her 143-ball knock.
She reached the highest of the event batting chart with 470 runs together with 100 and three half-tons in eight matches.
The elegant batter began with a crisp cowl drive off Lauren Bell for a 4 and the opening pair hit common boundaries to place England on the again foot.
England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone dented South Africa’s surge with two wickets in a single over as she bowled Brits for 45 and three balls later despatched again Anneke Bosch for a duck.
England struck common blows however Wolvaardt stood agency and placed on key partnerships with Kapp, who hit 42, after which Chloe Tryon, who made an unbeaten 33.
Wolvaardt lastly fell within the forty eighth over off Bell and walked again to a standing ovation and handshakes from the opposition gamers.
Ecclestone stood out with figures of 4-44 after she was cleared to play regardless of struggling a shoulder damage within the earlier recreation.
South Africa tempo spearhead Kapp rattled England with two wickets within the first over as she bowled Amuy Jones and Heather Knight — each out for geese.
Ayabonga Khaka dimissed Tammy Beaumont for a golden duck within the second over and regardless of a rearguard by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey the England innings fell aside.
Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with 64, and Capsey, who made 50, placed on 107 runs for the third wicket however after their departure the South African bowlers hit again.
Kapp dismissed Sciver-Brunt after which obtained Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean caught behind to be on a hat-trick, which was prevented by Ecclestone.
