Welcome to IOL Sport’s live coverage of the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final between South Africa and England in Guwahati.
Can Laura Wolvaardt’s Proteas finally break their semi-final curse and reach a first-ever World Cup final, or will England once again stand in their way? Stay with us for all the action, analysis, and reaction as it unfolds.
16.21: BODIES ON THE LINE AMONGST FIGHT-BACK
England 67/3 after 16th overs
Be it Annerie Dercksen at cover, Anneke Bosch at point, or Nonkululeko Mlaba at mid-on, the Proteas women have produced an almost flawless effort in the field — putting their bodies on the line and backing up what has been an impressive bowling display.
There have been some close calls, with a few nicks flying through the vacant first-slip region and a near run-out. One blotch on their efforts in the field so far – and it’s a biggie – substitute fielder Nondumiso Shangase has dropped Alice Capsey during the 15th over.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Capsey are leading England’s fightback, the pair having combined for an unbeaten half-century stand. – Ongama Gwabe
Laura Wolvaardt has just played arguably the greatest ever World Cup semi final innings … #WomensWorldCup2025
Laura Wolvaardt has kick-started the meme-machine. She is the top trending post on X, and has helped the Proteas on GoogleTrends with a 1000% increase in searches over the last four hours.
Meanwhile, A fantastic powerplay from South Africa comes to an end. Marizanne Kapp’s 2/3 and Ayabonga Khaka’s 1/12 have delivered with the new ball. England in all sorts of trouble with the score on 15/3 after six overs. – Ongama Gwabe
15.43: NOW FOR THE BIG WICKET
England 10/3 after five overs
Should Sinalo Jafta stand up to Marizanne Kapp?
With Kapp getting the ball to nip both ways, Nat Sciver-Brunt has already started using footwork to negate the swing. Should Jafta stand up to Kapp, forcing Sciver-Brunt to stay in the crease and face the nipping ball? – Ongama Gwabe
We scored 69 all out against England in our opening game. Laura Wolvaardt responds with exactly 100 more on her own in the semi-final. That’s how you respond. 😭❤️🇿🇦🏆
The verdicts have started rolling in on Laura Wolvaardt’s 169, and, indeed, it is one of the great innings from a South African at a Cricket World Cup.
15.30: KHAKA MAKES IT THREE
England 5/3 after two overs
Ayabonga Khaka gets the third!
A faint outside edge and a simple catch behind the stumps for Sinalo Jafta. Tammy Beaumont is the third wicket. South Africa are in a roll. – Ongama Gwabe
15.27: KAPP’S DOUBLE-WICKET-MAIDEN
England 0/2 after one over
Double strike for South Africa in the first over.
Marizanne Kapp delivers the perfect start for South Africa. Nasser Hussein posed a question if the ball nipping back in would be a problem for the England top order.
Indeed it is a massive problem as Marizanne Kapp bowls out Amy Jones and Heather Knight. England two down with a run after the first over. – Ongama Gwabe
14.57: INNINGS BREAK – TAKE A BOW CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN!
Proteas 319/7 in 50 overs
The Proteas have set England an imposing target in the first World Cup semi-final.
Laura Wolvaardt was magnificent for her team with a sublime 169 (143 balls)
Marizanne Kapp (42 off 33 balls) also played her part, but it was Chloe Tryon (33* off 26 balls) that finished the job with a brilliant cameo at the backend.
The Proteas blasted 117 runs in the last 10 overs.
England will need to produce a record chase if they are to reach another World Cup final.
Over to the Proteas bowlers and fielders now … – Zaahier Adams
14.44: WOLVAARDT DEPARTS AFTER UNBELIEVABLE KNOCK
Proteas 291/7 after 48 overs
RESPECT …
Every England players runs across to congratulate the Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt on a magnificent 169 off 143 balls. We have just witnessed one for the greatest World Cup innings ever!! – Zaahier Adams
14.37: WOLVAARDT SWITCHES GEARS AND GET ANOTHER MILESTONE
Proteas 284/6 (Wolvaardt 168 not out) in 47 overs
150! Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt is playing an innings for the ages!
She reaches the milestone with another thunderous 6! Is the innings that gets the Proteas to a first-ever World Cup final? – Zaahier Adams
14.20: HAPPY HOUR IS ARRIVED!
Proteas 250/6 after 45 overs
The Proteas are on the charge . And it’s Captain Laura Wolvaardt leading the way with a flurry of boundaries! – Zaahier Adams
14.05: TON UP FOR CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN, BUT …
Proteas 202/6 in 40.1 overs
100!! Take a bow skipper! That’s a superb century in a high pressure situation. Laura Wolvaardt brings up her maiden World Cup century. But the celebrations are muted after Annerie Dercksen falls – Zaahier Adams
13.56: ANOTHER ONE GONE!
Proteas 192/5 after 37.1 overs
Wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta bowled cheaply. It was an ambitious call from Proteas coach Mandla Mashimbyi to send in Jafta at six. Lauren Bell accounts for the wicket-keeper batter. South Africa five down. – Ongama Gcwabe
13.52: OH NO! BIG BLOW FOR THE PROTEAS
Proteas 191/4 after 36.3 overs
Sophie Ecclestone gets the big wicket of Marizanne Kapp for 42. The all-rounder Was looking to go big down the ground, but skied the and Charlie Dean takes the catch at mid on. Pressure on South Africa. – Ongama Gcwabe
13.42: KAPP GOES BANG!
Proteas 182/3 after 35 overs
Marizanne Kapp working hard to switch the momentum back into the Proteas’ favour. She goes long with a huge SIX! – Zaahier Adams
13.20: END OF 30 OVERS
Marizanne Kapp has brought some impetus back into the Proteas innings with a couple of boundaries. The Proteas lost 46/3 in those last 10 overs. A partnership is brewing between Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt to take the Proteas to 149/3 after 30 overs. – Zaahier Adams
13.05: ENGLAND GET ANOTHER!
Proteas 126/3 after 26 overs
You miss, I hit! Nat Sciver-Brunt gets Sune Luus. It wasn’t short enough to pull and Luus gets the bottom edge onto the stumps. England have their third. Pressure on South Africa. – Ongama Gcwabe
12.56: DOUBLE STRIKE FOR ENGLAND:
Proteas 116/2 after 23 overs
Sophie Ecclestone makes the breakthrough for England, striking twice in the same over.
It was a long time coming. Brits was struggling. She didn’t look comfortable playing that reverse sweep. Ecclestone only needed to bowl wicket-to-wicket. Anneke Bosch follows Brits, bowled trying to shimmy down the wicket.
12.46: BRITS GOES DOWNTOWN
Tazmin Brits had had enough of the prodding along. She launches Sophie Eccelstone for a massive SIX down the ground! – Zaahier Adams
12:41: 100 UP FOR THE PROTEAS!
The Proteas positive start to the World Cup semi-final continues. Tazmin Brits brings up the milestone with a delicate sweep off Sophie Ecclestone. Laura Wolvaardt’s half-century equalled the record for most 50s (13) in World Cup history. – Zaahier Adams
12.34: ENGLAND HIT A BRICK WALL
18 overs in, England Women are yet to take a wicket. They have ran into the brick wall. Wolvaardt and Brits have been rock solid. England need a wicket here to reignite their bowling innings. – Ongama Gcwabe
12.28: 50! CAPTAIN LEADING FROM THE FRONT!
Laura Wolvaardt is taking the semi-final by the scruff of the neck. She brings up her 4th half-century of this World Cup in just 52 balls. – Zaahier Adams
An excellent half-century! 💥
A composed captain’s knock on a massive occasion! Laura Wolvaardt demonstrates her precision and class with an outstanding innings in the semi-final. 💪🇿🇦 #Unbreakable#CWC25pic.twitter.com/b17QMLrh0z
Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s joins an elite list of women cricketers as she passes 5000 ODI runs. – Zaahier Adams
12.21: 80/0 IN 15 OVERS – CRICKET IS A FUNNY GAME!
The Proteas have moved past their 69 of their first game blowout without losing a wicket. Nasser Hussain and Natalie Germanos having a chuckle on air, with Germanos teasing Hussain about wanting every opportunity to speak about the Proteas’ previous 69-run capitulation. – Zaahier Adams
12.18: BRITS WASTING BALLS
South Africa are struggling to rotate the strike here. 50 dot balls inside 13 overs is just not it. Brits, who seems to be struggling, needs to hand over the strike to Wolvaardt consistently as she searches for rhythm. – Ongama Gcwabe
12.05: END OF THE POWERPLAY
An unbeaten 58-run opening stand for South Africa in the opening 10 overs. Laura Wolvaardt has been freely playing her strokes, feasting on the width on offer from England bowlers. England go wicketless for the first time in the tournament as they have continued to stray in lines and lengths. – Ongama Gcwabe
11.42: DROPPED!
Tazmin Brits drills a powerful drive straight at Lauren Bell, but it’s hit with so much power that Bell only manages to get her fingertips on it as the ball races away for another Proteas boundary! 18/0 after 2.2 overs. – Zaahier Adams
11.38: GOOD START!
Laura Wolvaardt got her team off to the perfect start with successive boundaries off Laura Bell’s first two balls of the innings.
The trademark Wolvaardt cover drive set the tone followed by an outside edge that flew to the third man boundary.
It will certainly help settle the nerves in the Proteas dug out. 9/0 after 1 over
TOSS:The Proteas Women have lost the toss and have been asked to bat first in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final encounter against England Women at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
The Proteas have made one change in the line-up for the semi-final, as they decided to lengthen the batting unit.
The experienced Proteas seamer Masabata Klaas missed out, and top-order batter Anneke Bosch has another opportunity to showcase her skills in the tournament.
Proteas Women’s team to face England
The Proteas Women have a date with destiny in today’s ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against England in Guwahati.
Laura Wolvaardt’s side will be hoping it’s third time lucky after suffering semi-final heartbreaks in Bristol (2017) and Christchurch (2022) — both against the same formidable opponents. They’ll also be eager to erase any lingering memories of their opening-game mauling by England at this very venue.
With history and pressure stacked against them, it will take not only skill but immense courage and belief if the Proteas are to reach their first-ever ODI World Cup final.
Encouragingly, Wolvaardt’s team have shown plenty of resilience and what many like to call “bounce-back ability”, winning five straight matches since that opening defeat. They’ve discovered a winning rhythm and, crucially, a sense of momentum that could carry them past their biggest hurdle yet.
It’s a blockbuster showdown against England! 💥
The stage is set in Guwahati for what promises to be a thrilling semi-final today at 11:30am! 🏆
There’s no shortage of match-winners in this Proteas side, starting with captain Wolvaardt and her opening partner Tazmin Brits. Both have been relatively quiet so far in the tournament but will be hoping they’ve saved their best for the knockout stages.
All-rounder Marizanne Kapp remains one of the global game’s standout performers and will be desperate to extend what could well be her final World Cup journey. Her experience and temperament under pressure could once again prove invaluable.
The middle order, too, has delivered serious firepower. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk have embraced their roles as the team’s “Bash Sisters”, finishing innings with intent and aggression. De Klerk, in particular, has been in superb form, striking the ball cleanly and consistently to all parts of the ground.
With the ball, the Proteas have found control and potency through left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, whose consistency and guile have anchored the attack. Her battle against England’s top order could be one of the defining contests of the match.
It’s all set up for a fascinating clash — one dripping with history, tension, and opportunity. Knowing the Proteas’ past, both in the men’s and women’s games, it’s fair to expect drama until the very end.
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