South African captain Laura Wolvaardt ran riot with the bat and cracked a historic yet stroke-filled century in the first semi-final of the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup against England on Wednesday, October 29. Prior to this high-stakes match, Wolvaardt had yet to register a century in her entire ODI World Cup career, making the timing of this milestone particularly significant.
Laura Wolvaardt's blistering century in World Cup semifinal against England
Put in to bat first, Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a brilliant display of both aggression and classical technique. The right-hander immediately took the attack to the English bowling, particularly against the left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, ensuring the team got off to an excellent start during the powerplay and extending her already impressive run of form in the tournament.
Despite a mid-innings wobble where wickets fell relatively easily at the other end, Wolvaardt maintained her composure and attacking intent. She focused on favorable matchups, successfully targeting bowlers such as Charlie Dean and Alice Capsey. After an initial 116-run opening stand, she then built a crucial 72-run partnership with veteran batter Marizanne Kapp. Following Kapp's dismissal, the 26-year-old skipper took full responsibility for the innings, going on to complete her first-ever ton in the Women's ODI World Cup.
Wolvaardt's century was a historic knock, as it marked the first-ever World Cup century by a captain in a knock-out stage match, etching her name into a rare piece of cricket history. Furthermore, the outstanding innings raised her overall ODI century tally to ten, placing her joint fifth-most on the all-time list in Women’s ODI cricket.
She ended up tonking a blistering 143-ball 169 which helped South Africa post a towering total of 319/7.
South Africa Women (Playing XI):
Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
England Women (Playing XI):
Amy Jones(w), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell