Laura Wolvaardt will surely rate her 169 against England as the best of her 5,121 ODI runs, as the knock propelled South Africa to a 125-run victory and into their first-ever 50-over World Cup final. Her innings was a blend of composure and outright brutality.
The captain anchored the innings after being put in to bat, reaching her maiden World Cup century off 115 balls. At 202 for six, thanks to four wickets from England’s Sophie Ecclestone, the game was in the balance.
Then, Wolvaardt unleashed. She smashed 69 runs from her final 28 balls, hitting four sixes and taking 20 off one over. Her charge led South Africa to 319 for seven.
The chase was dismantled by Marizanne Kapp. She started with a double-wicket maiden, bowling Amy Jones and Heather Knight, as England collapsed to one for three.
Kapp, who also became the all-time leading World Cup wicket-taker, finished with five for 20. She returned from cramp to end England’s resistance, bowling them out for 194 and sealing a historic day.
