The charge by South Africa into the Women World Cup final was emphatic, with a 125 run defeat over England, courtesy of scintillating performances of captain Laura Wolvaardt and all-rounder Marizanne Kapp in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The Proteas went to bat with a huge 319-7 run target and Wolvaardt has delivered in a spectacular fashion. The skipper had broken 169 out of 143 balls, a booming blow interspersed with 20 fours and four sixes. The fact that her innings gave South Africa the anchor to its entire total but it also shattered the spirits of England in its initial moves in the contest.
Wolvaardt and opener Tazmin Brits (45) provided South Africa with a dream performance by a partnership of 116 runs, before she partnered with Kapp (42) to keep the scoreboard going. Sophie Ecclestone, the spinner of England, was forced to play with a shoulder injury, but she managed to take 4 wickets with 44, South Africa ended the game with a boom, gaining 117 in the last 10 overs. Chloe Tryon was also contributing quickfire with a score that was not beaten at 33 and it meant that England had a mountain to scale.
The defending champions had no comeback story as South Africa ensured that there was no repeat performance when it was their time to defend. Kapp manufactured a memory charm, taking 5 wickets off only 20 runs, hurting England with speed and accuracy through its first-line.
The pursuit of England was in shambles, to the very beginning. Kapp hit twice in her first over to take out Amy Jones and Heather Knight and Ayabonga Khaka hit Tammy Beaumont shortly after, putting England in a state of free fall at 1-3 in the first seven deliveries.
The final spurt had been made by Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) as they made a center stand of a century, but on the outset Kapp re-emerged and removed Sciver-Brunt, and the fight was lost. Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean were then dismissed in successive balls by the seamer of the right arm ending the English resistance at 194 all out in 42.3 overs.
The win was a sweet revenge to the South African who had previously lost to England in the 2017 and 2022 semi-finals. This was the moment when they made the turn of the tables with emphatic style to play the first time in their lives in the Women world cup final.
South Africa is now awaiting the Australia vs India winner that will be contested in the second semi-final in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
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