Wolvaardt’s Heroic 169 Lifts South Africa to Record World Cup Total Against England. Image- AFP.
(The Post News)- South Africa defeated England 319-7 in the first semi-final of the Women’s World Cup because of a brilliant 169 from captain Laura Wolvaardt on Wednesday.
South Africa relied on Wolvaardt’s cool composure and skill-full stroke play to set a formidable target of 320 after being called in to bat, giving England the task of their greatest-ever World Cup chase.
Despite a serious shoulder injury from the previous game, England’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone was cleared to play. She battled hard and finished as the best bowler with 4–44. Although Wolvaardt seemed motivated to lead her team into their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final, her tenacity won praise.
Wolvaardt struck her first boundary off Lauren Bell with a clean cover drive through the off side to start her innings with her characteristic grace. Together with Tazmin Brits, she produced a confident 116-run opening stand that stabilized the innings and kept the scoreboard moving. Early on, the two’s calm aggression put England at a disadvantage.
South Africa’s momentum was momentarily halted when Ecclestone struck twice in one over, dismissing Brits for 45 and Anneke Bosch for a duck. Despite the pressure, Wolvaardt remained composed and used Marizanne Kapp (42) and Chloe Tryon (33) to rebuild the innings.
Wolvaardt combined composure and ferocity as her confidence developed, unleashing a variety of beautiful drives and strong lofted shots. In addition to being a personal victory, her innings of 20 fours and 4 sixes off 143 balls was a source of pride for the country.
The crowd stood up when she eventually fell to Bell in the 48th over. Even the English players took a moment to applaud, recognizing a performance that went beyond rivalry. In addition to anchoring South Africa’s innings, Wolvaardt’s spectacular knock symbolized her leadership, tenacity, and the unassuming faith of a squad pursuing history.
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