<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://theearthcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/cbb07cda-2478-4c7f-bfd1-6b56b96107e6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1281"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Signature: ZVQtFqn9dDMUZ3ZZec18gPlU9OhvfGKHRafttMbYv9Dgg1Djdx9EqlFXPvjw6k8fPQhHfaxOQ7XkEstldFWX2R6eRtVaKqmjOnsM+hcWV2lWsc6RbxRuIv+RmqLIaQLvfibbMloXGFgYWzrpWC7VlB8Q3VLXxax+c3I671VV2Us=</figcaption></figure>



<p>In the heart of Guwahati&#8217;s Barsapara Cricket Stadium, under the day-night lights of October 29, 2025, the ICC Women&#8217;s World Cup 2025 exploded into life with a semi-final clash that promised fireworks and delivered a bonfire. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt&#8217;s decision to bowl first after winning the toss seemed routine on a batting paradise pitch, but what unfolded was a masterclass in resilience and redemption from South Africa, led by their skipper Laura Wolvaardt&#8217;s jaw-dropping 169 not out, the highest individual score by a South African in World Cup history. This wasn&#8217;t just a knock; it was a statement, transforming South Africa&#8217;s tournament narrative from underdogs haunted by knockout ghosts to genuine finalists-in-waiting.</p>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s innings began steadily, with openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits weaving a 116-run partnership that neutralized England&#8217;s early swing threat from Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone. Brits fell in the Powerplay at 58/0, but Wolvaardt, unflappable as ever, rebuilt with Marizanne Kapp for 72 runs, pushing the score to 144/5 by the 35th over. Here, England&#8217;s spinners, particularly Ecclestone with her economical 4/44, applied the brakes, claiming clusters of wickets including Sune Luus and Anneke Bosch in quick succession. Yet, the Proteas&#8217; depth shone through in the death overs, where Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk unleashed 117 runs for just two wickets in the final 10, featuring 35 fours and seven sixes across the innings. Wolvaardt&#8217;s acceleration post-35 overs was poetry in motion: sweeps, lofts, and drives that exploited the short boundaries, culminating in her maiden World Cup ton and pushing the total to a daunting 319/7. Extras added 13, but boundaries accounted for 182 runs, underscoring SA&#8217;s intent on a wicket projected at 270 by Brits herself post-innings.</p>



<p>England&#8217;s bowling, while disciplined with Bell&#8217;s 2/55 and Lauren Smith&#8217;s 0/69, faltered in the slog as Wolvaardt targeted the spinners, hitting Ecclestone for crucial boundaries. This total eclipses South Africa&#8217;s previous World Cup high and sets the stage for the highest successful chase in a women&#8217;s ODI knockout, surpassing Australia&#8217;s 219 against India. Research from past Guwahati ODIs shows dew aiding chases under lights, but England&#8217;s fielding lapses 48 dot balls allowed SA to reset and explode.</p>



<p>The chase ignited with pure pandemonium. Marizanne Kapp, the seasoned all-rounder with a knack for big occasions, channeled her inner fire to deliver a double-wicket maiden in the opening over: first, Amy Jones bowled by a full inswinger exposing the bat-pad gap (0/1 at 0.2 overs), then skipper Heather Knight chopping a back-of-length seamer onto her stumps (1/2 at 0.5 overs). Ayabonga Khaka&#8217;s wide on the first ball of the second over summed up England&#8217;s jittery start, leaving Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt to rebuild from 1/2 after one over, needing 319 off 49 with a required rate creeping to 6.51. Kapp&#8217;s figures: 1-1-0-2, a perfect riposte to her own middle-order dismissal earlier.</p>



<p>This early collapse evokes England&#8217;s tournament opener where they skittled SA for 69, but roles reversed today highlight the Proteas&#8217; growth under Wolvaardt&#8217;s leadership. Sciver-Brunt, England&#8217;s chase maestro with multiple ODI tons, faces her sternest test yet; her aggressive style could either spark a revival or deepen the hole. Beaumont, reviewed off an LBW that turned wide, must anchor, drawing from her 2022 Commonwealth Games heroics.</p>



<p>Pitch insights reveal a true surface with true bounce early, but expect low skid under dew, favoring SA&#8217;s seamers like Kapp and Khaka who boast swing in humid conditions. England&#8217;s middle order Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey hold the power-hitting keys, but with two reviews left each, strategic DRS calls loom large. Statistically, only 14 times have teams chased over 264 in ODIs, none in knockouts this high, per Cricbuzz data.</p>



<p>As the match hangs in balance, South Africa&#8217;s momentum from Wolvaardt&#8217;s epic could propel them to their second straight World Cup final, exorcising 2022 semi-final demons against Australia. For England, holders of four titles, this is redemption time: can they summon the spirit of their 2017 triumph? With the winner facing India or Australia on November 2, every ball in Guwahati pulses with history. Stay tuned for live updates as this semi-final saga unfolds who will book that Lord&#8217;s date?</p>



<p></p>



<p>Dive into the thrilling ICC Women&#8217;s World Cup 2025 semi-final action where Laura Wolvaardt&#8217;s unbeaten 169 fires South Africa to a mammoth 319/7, while Marizanne Kapp&#8217;s fiery opening burst leaves England at 1/2. Live updates, expert analysis, scorecard, and key insights to catch every boundary and wicket in this Guwahati showdown.</p>



<p>England vs South Africa Women cricket, Women&#8217;s World Cup 2025 semi final live score, Laura Wolvaardt century, Marizanne Kapp wickets, ENG vs SAW highlights, ICC Women&#8217;s ODI World Cup updates, Guwahati cricket match analysis</p>



<p>Sophie Ecclestone bowling, Tammy Beaumont batting, Nat Sciver-Brunt chase, South Africa women innings breakdown, England women run chase strategy, Barsapara Stadium pitch report, Women&#8217;s cricket records 2025</p>



<p><strong>Hashtags:</strong> #WomensWorldCup2025 #ENGvSAW #Wolvaardt169 #KappDoubleStrike #CricketThriller #GuwahatiSemiFinal #WomensCricketLive #ICCLiveUpdates #ProteasPower #EnglandWomenCricket</p>



<p><strong>Suggested Backlinks:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Internal: Link to your site&#8217;s previous articles like &#8220;Top 5 Women&#8217;s World Cup Centuries&#8221; or &#8220;Guwahati Pitch Analysis for ODIs&#8221;</li>



<li>External: <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/womens-cricket-worldcup-2025/match/england-women-vs-south-africa-women-1st-semi-final" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC Official Match Page</a> for live streaming; <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-world-cup-2025-26-1478193/england-women-vs-south-africa-women-1st-semi-final-1490441/full-scorecard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPNcricinfo Scorecard</a> for stats; <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/live/c2en9wrmyg0t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Sport Live Commentary</a> for radio updates; <a href="https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scores/engw-vs-saw-1st-semi-final-icc-womens-world-cup-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cricbuzz Ball-by-Ball</a> for highlights.</li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p>This analysis draws from real-time data across ESPNcricinfo, BBC, and ICC feeds, blending stats with tactical breakdowns to offer fresh perspectives beyond scoreboards. Share your predictions in comments did Wolvaardt&#8217;s ton seal it, or will Sciver-Brunt script another miracle? For more women&#8217;s cricket deep dives, subscribe and hit notifications your gateway to explosive updates that keep you ahead of the curve.</p>

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