Wolvaardt’s defining semifinal innings the best by a South African at a Cricket World Cup

Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt played one of the great World Cup innings, smashing 169 runs off 143 deliveries to guide South Africa to its first ODI Cricket World Cup final.

Although the country doesn’t have a favourable reputation in Cricket World Cup knockout matches, South Africa has seen plenty of exceptional performances on the global stage.

For the men’s side, David Miller struck one of the best rearguard centuries in World Cup history in 2023 with his 101 off 115 deliveries against Australia in the semifinal.

The southpaw walked in with the team on 24 runs for the loss of four wickets. He almost single-handedly took South Africa to a competitive total of 212.

Then there is AB de Villiers’ undefeated 162 he spanked off only 66 deliveries against West Indies in 2015. For sheer brutality, it’s one of South Africa’s best at the showpiece event, helping the team to a 257-run victory in the group stage.

But for sense of occasion, combined with the composure and equal parts destruction displayed by Wolvaardt, her innings ranks at the top of the tree for South African batters at Cricket World Cups.

Before this game, no innings played by a South African had been as instrumental in a Cricket World Cup.

After the match, when asked where this innings ranked in her career, Wolvaardt’s answer was simple:

“This has to be at the top,” she said. “[In the] context of the game, World Cup semifinal and winning a game against a strong bowling line-up. It has to be right up there.”

Wolvaardt’s highest individual score in an ODI is an undefeated 184, in a match they lost, against Sri Lanka last year.

The timing of her semifinal knock, the chancelessness and composure of it, ranks it not only as one of the best of her career, but as the best played by a South African cricketer.

Through the gears

The 26-year-old’s knock went through every gear. The first part of her innings was free-flowing as she struck 10 fours, scoring 50 runs off 52 balls.

“We knew the start would be crucial,” Wolvaardt said. “Taz (Brits) and I have been strong at the top, and when we bat well, it feeds off (the rest of the batting order).”

With wickets tumbling around her, she then backed off and worked the singles around the ground, bringing up her 10th ODI century off 115 balls.

Her celebration was subdued, knowing that her job wasn’t done yet.

Wolvaardt then displayed the side of her game that is underappreciated. She opened her shoulders and blasted 69 runs off the last 28 balls she faced — striking four sixes in the process.

“In the back of my mind, I knew I had those shots and wanted to bat to the 40th over, and then, while I was there, thought I might as well try to whack a few,” she explained.

Tumbling records

Wolvaardt was 45 runs short of 5,000 ODI runs before the semifinal. “It’s not really something that I’ve thought about,” the South African skipper said at the pre-match press conference about reaching the milestone during the semifinal. “Whether it’s tomorrow or in another game, it’s same, same.

“[It] would be really cool to get there, but definitely not the main thing I’m focusing on.”

Wolvaardt reached 5,000 runs and then some, becoming only the sixth player in women’s cricket history to hit that mark. She’s the youngest player and the quickest by number of innings (117) to reach the milestone.

Her record during Cricket World Cups is phenomenal. She’s tied, on 13 times ,with Indian legend Mithali Raj for the most 50-plus scores at the tournament. Incredibly, Wolvaardt has played only 23 innings, compared with Raj’s 36.

Wolvaardt’s tally in World Cup knockout matches has shot to 235 runs in three innings – all three semifinals against England (2017, 2022 and 2025) – the fifth-most runs in Cricket World Cup playoff history.

But the most important aspect of the innings and what makes it a standout in South Africa’s Cricket World Cup history is that the match ended with the Proteas on the winning side.

For the first time in 50-over Cricket World Cup history, the Proteas are one match away from sealing the title, and it’s in no part thanks to the efforts – and the elegant cover drives – of their captain.

“It still feels a bit unreal,” Wolvaardt said.

“That’s the sort of thing that you dream about as a kid: scoring 100 in a World Cup, [in a] knockout game as well. [It’s] very special and I’m so glad we won in the end.” DM