Guwahati, Oct 29 (NationPress) South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt expressed immense joy after her record-setting century in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal against England. Her remarkable innings of 169 runs off 143 balls, featuring 20 fours and four sixes, led South Africa to a decisive 125-run victory at the ACA Stadium, securing their first-ever spot in a 50-over World Cup final.

"It still feels surreal. This is what you dream about as a child—scoring a century in a World Cup knockout match. It was a very special day, and I’m thrilled we came out on top," she shared after the match.

Reflecting on her strong opening partnership with Tazmin Brits, she remarked, "We recognized the importance of a solid start. Taz and I have been effective at the top of the order, and we managed to bolster the rest of the lineup. I’m really pleased we formed that partnership early on."

Wolvaardt focused on maintaining stability during the middle overs before intensifying her attack. "We got ahead quite early on. It was a good pitch, so we wanted to keep up the momentum. I was aiming to reach the 40th over and let Nadine, Annerie, and Chloe take charge for the final stretch. I thought I’d try to hit a few leg-side boundaries while I was there; perhaps I should have done it earlier!"

When asked to rank this innings among her best performances, she confidently stated it would top her list. "It has to be number one, given the game's context—a World Cup semifinal against a formidable opponent and bowling attack. It’s up there for sure."

This victory was particularly sweet for Wolvaardt and her team, considering their previous heartbreaks against England in the 2017 and 2022 World Cup semifinals. "This win is very special. Everyone is ecstatic. Losing to them in the past hurt the team. I’m so glad we managed to win tonight," she acknowledged.

She admitted that memories of their earlier tournament collapse—being bowled out for 69—lingered. "It crossed my mind a bit. Same opponent, same venue; it’s hard not to think about it. Losing the toss wasn’t too bad; I would have bowled first anyway. But it worked out well. I’m happy with how our bowlers performed."

Laura also commended Marizanne Kapp for her outstanding performance—scoring 42 runs and taking an impressive 5 wickets for 20 runs. "It was a match of partnerships. Taz and I started strong but lost a few quick wickets afterward. Kappie was phenomenal, easing the pressure off me. England was 1-3; I didn’t see that coming. Her dual threat with bat and ball is incredible!"

Looking ahead to the final scheduled in Navi Mumbai on November 2, Laura expressed excitement but emphasized the need to enjoy this moment first. "Today is very special. The tournament format is fair. We’ve played exceptional cricket, and I’m proud of our group. The final will be an incredible match, whether we face India in front of a home crowd or the reigning champions Australia. We’ll celebrate tonight and then strategize for the final."

–IANS