England’s dreams of a World Cup final were extinguished in a matter of overs as their top order vanished, slumping to one for three in a disastrous start to their run chase against South Africa. They ultimately lost by 125 runs, bowled out for 194 in pursuit of 320.
The architect of their demise was Marizanne Kapp, who produced a searing opening spell, including a double-wicket maiden. She clean-bowled Amy Jones and dismissed Heather Knight, as England’s top three all failed to score. The only run on the board came from a wide.
This bowling brilliance from Kapp, who finished with five for 20 and became the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker, was the closing chapter on a story written by her captain. Laura Wolvaardt had earlier played an exceptional innings of 169.
Wolvaardt’s knock was a game of two halves. She built a platform with a 115-ball hundred, navigating a tricky period where Sophie Ecclestone took four wickets. Then, she unleashed chaos, smashing 69 runs off her final 28 deliveries.
The total of 319 for seven was the second-highest in World Cup knockout history. While Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt fought back with a 107-run stand, Kapp returned to break the partnership and seal a historic first-ever 50-over World Cup final appearance for South Africa.