South Africa has demonstrated outstanding spirit and determination to advance to the knockout stages of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Their group stage was punctuated by batting collapses, with the Proteas falling to 69 all out against England before being despatched for 97 by an Alana King-inspired Australia.
Between those matches, South Africa regained their rhythm, winning five straight.
A three-wicket triumph over hosts India was particularly stunning, with Nadine de Klerk scoring an unbeaten 84 from 54 balls to spark a brilliant revival, while Nonkululeko Mlaba and Tazmin Brits shone in a crucial victory over New Zealand.
Key moment
The first ball of the encounter versus the White Ferns must be up there.
The Proteas were under pressure after they had not made a good opening against England, particularly in a match against a different team which had semi-final aspirations of its own.
In this connection, it was particularly opportune, then, when Marizanne Kapp struck Suzie Bates on the pads, and she went flying in to the pavilion, with a golden duck.
Mlaba kept the momentum going with four wickets when Brits reached her fifth ODI century of 2025, the first woman to do so, to score a perfect reply and put South Africa on their way.
Top performers
Mlaba, who spins with the left hand, has been successful in the sub-continental conditions, registering 11 wickets at 18.90 to continue her superb performance at the ICC Women T20 world cup last year.
Laura Wolvaardt had started bad to be a model of consistency at the head of the order, with three half-centuries in five innings, and Kapp has been a steady resource, both at the bat and with the ball.
Brits has had it either feast or famine, having three ducks and two singles figure scores to supplement her century against New Zealand and 55 not out against Sri Lanka.
History vs semi- final opponent.
South Africa has something to score on England and they are aware as they should turn the tide back to front before they can get to their first ICC Women Cricket World Cup final.
England has beaten them out of the semi-finals of the two recent 50-over World Cups, in 2017 and 2022, and the Proteas will be reminded about how they performed dismally last year against the team of Charlotte Edwards in the group stage.
Scores were made by Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont when they needed less than 15 overs to score the necessary run in a match that they won by 10 wickets, it is certain that South Africa will this time fight better and win, as they have only won one of the eight previous ODIs they have played against England.
