Laura Wolvaardt’s decisive, match-winning 169 proved to be the difference as England’s team effort failed to materialize in a 125-run semi-final loss. South Africa’s captain delivered a performance that papered over her own team’s flaws and exposed England’s.
England’s best player, Sophie Ecclestone, was brilliant, taking four wickets despite injury. But she had no support. The death bowling “made to resemble an amateur” conceded a match-losing total.
Similarly, England’s batting featured one good partnership—107 runs between Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt—but the top order was non-existent, collapsing to one for three.
South Africa also had flaws, including a “batter error” collapse of three for three. But Wolvaardt’s individual brilliance (169) and Marizanne Kapp’s (five for 20) rendered those flaws irrelevant.
Ultimately, South Africa’s superstars delivered, while England’s failed to fire, leading to a historic first-ever final for the Proteas.
Wolvaardt’s 169 Proves Decisive as England’s Team Effort Fails
Date:
Picture Credit: www.commons.wikimedia.org