England knocked out of World Cup as supreme South Africa power into final

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra England’s opening three batters have been dismissed for geese as goals of Ladies’s Cricket World Cup glory have been crushed by a 125-run semi-final hammering by the hands of South Africa.

Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt produced a masterclass to place her facet on target for victory in Guwahati, smashing 169 off 143 balls, together with 20 fours and 4 sixes, in a complete of 319 for seven.

England’s pursuit of the mammoth goal started in dismal vogue when Amy Jones and Heather Knight have been eliminated within the first over as a part of Marizanne Kapp’s five-for earlier than Tammy Beaumont fell to Ayabonga Khaka on the opening ball of the second.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/29-d1cbbb25ca374bf88511319e2a13ba81.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/29-d1cbbb25ca374bf88511319e2a13ba81.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/29-d1cbbb25ca374bf88511319e2a13ba81.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Laura Wolvaardt made a sensational hundred" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Laura Wolvaardt made a sensational hundred (AP) Half-centuries from Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) offered some resistance however a profitable chase by no means appeared possible and England have been all out for 194.

Aided by 4 wickets from Sophie Ecclestone, the four-time champions appeared effectively positioned to achieve a 3rd consecutive World Cup remaining after decreasing their opponents to 202 for six.

Nonetheless, Charlotte Edwards' facet shipped 117 runs in a expensive remaining 10 overs earlier than the outstanding collapse of the highest order paved the best way for an upset.

South Africa will face both holders Australia or co-hosts India in Sunday’s remaining.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/52/Nat-Sciver-Brunt-ugr522aq.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/52/Nat-Sciver-Brunt-ugr522aq.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/52/Nat-Sciver-Brunt-ugr522aq.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England were blown away by an irresistible South Africa" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England have been blown away by an irresistible South Africa (AFP through Getty Photos) England, runners-up to Australia in 2022 after lifting the trophy at Lord's in 2017, started the competitors with a 10-wicket win over the Proteas and have been closely fancied to register one other victory.

Captain Sciver-Brunt elected to bowl after successful the toss, with star spinner Ecclestone handed slot in an unchanged staff.

South Africa have been all out for 69 when the perimeters met on 3 October, however – on a extra beneficial batting floor – surpassed that whole with out loss inside 14 overs.

The 116-run opening partnership between skipper Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits was damaged within the twenty third over when a poorly executed reverse sweep from the latter noticed her dismissed by Ecclestone for 45.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/34/Laura-Wolvaardt-6t9dojz8.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/34/Laura-Wolvaardt-6t9dojz8.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/34/Laura-Wolvaardt-6t9dojz8.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Laura Wolvaardt produced an outstanding 169 to lead her team into the final" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Laura Wolvaardt produced an excellent 169 to steer her staff into the ultimate (AFP through Getty Photos) Ecclestone additional allayed issues about her health simply three deliveries later by bowling Anneke Bosch for a duck earlier than Sciver-Brunt continued the momentum shift by eradicating Sune Luus for one as South Africa misplaced three wickets for 3 runs.

All-rounder Kapp joined Wolvaardt to regular the ship, ultimately succumbing eight runs wanting her half-century after being caught by Charlie Dean at mid-on off Ecclestone.

South Africa, who suffered semi-final heartache towards England on the earlier two World Cups, slipped to 192 for 5 4 balls later when Sinalo Jafta was skittled out by Lauren Bell.

Wolvaardt introduced up her ton - off 115 deliveries - within the fortieth over, however Annerie Dercksen grew to become Ecclestone's fourth sufferer following a calamitous try at a reverse sweep. However England continued to be plagued by the match's main run scorer.

Wolvaardt plundered 69 off 28 balls after reaching her century earlier than being caught by Capsey off Bell, whereas Chloe Tryon's unbeaten knock of 33 elevated the punishment. England's uphill process swiftly grew to become considerably harder.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/30/Marizanne-Kapp-2fcwnieq.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/30/Marizanne-Kapp-2fcwnieq.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/29/16/30/Marizanne-Kapp-2fcwnieq.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the first over of the chase" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Marizanne Kapp struck twice within the first over of the chase (AFP through Getty Photos) Kapp clear bowled Jones after which precipitated Knight to divert the ball onto the stumps earlier than Khaka eliminated Beaumont for a golden duck to go away Edwards’s staff floundering on one for 3.

Capsey, who was dropped by Nondumiso Shangase on 28, and Sciver-Brunt reached 50 from successive balls earlier than the previous was caught cheaply off Luus to finish a 107-run partnership.

Kapp ended Sciver-Brunt’s innings after which surpassed India’s Jhulan Goswami because the main wicket taker in Ladies's Cricket World Cup historical past by eradicating Sophia Dunkley and Dean with successive balls.

Ecclestone was out for 2 earlier than De Klerk had Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Linsey Smith caught for 34 and 27 respectively as South Africa reached a primary World Cup remaining with 45 balls to spare.