Guwahati, Oct 3 (NationPress) The captain of South Africa, Laura Wolvaardt, acknowledged that their batting performance was "definitely not the ideal way to kick off the tournament" after they were dismissed for a mere 69 runs, resulting in a 10-wicket defeat to England during their opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in Guwahati.

"It wasn't the greatest effort with the bat," Wolvaardt commented following the match at the Baraspara Stadium. "This team has demonstrated resilience in the past. We plan to put this behind us and proceed. Clearly, they bowled effectively with the new ball. Linsey was impressive. We didn't anticipate that much swing. We could have approached it more directly."

South Africa was left in shock as Linsey Smith (3-7) tore through their top order with the new ball, dismissing Wolvaardt (5) caught and bowled and Tazmin Brits (5) bowled within her first two overs. Lauren Bell (1/24) then dismissed Sune Luus (2), while Smith struck again to send back Marizanne Kapp (4), leaving the Proteas at 21/4.

The collapse continued unabated. By the ninth over, South Africa had lost half their team for just 31 runs. Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta showed some fight with 22 runs off 36 balls, but she was the only player to reach double figures as the team collapsed for 69 runs in 20.4 overs – marking their second-lowest total in ODI World Cup history. Sophie Ecclestone (2-19), Charlie Dean (2-14), and Nat Sciver-Brunt (2-5) took the remaining wickets.

Wolvaardt elaborated that South Africa attempted to alter their tactics with the ball: "We discovered that Ayabonga Khaka can be effective for us in the middle overs. So, we decided to introduce spin early and see how it played out. I believe we need to keep trusting our past strategies. We have solid form and a capable coaching staff. In tournaments like these, having a short memory is crucial to move forward."

England, set to chase a mere 70 runs, easily met the target. Tammy Beaumont (21* off 35) and Amy Jones (40* off 50) led them to victory in the 15th over, achieving a 10-wicket win with 215 balls to spare – marking England's fourth-largest World Cup victory by balls remaining.

Captain Sciver-Brunt praised her team's outstanding all-around performance. "I’m extremely pleased. It felt like everyone was really energized on the field. It’s a captain’s dream as we bowled excellently and managed to take wickets at regular intervals," she stated.

Regarding Smith's impact, Sciver-Brunt added: "She just played to her strengths. She’s a left-arm spinner but can swing the ball. We knew she was a great match-up against those two batters (South African openers), who had scored heavily before this tournament. Breaking that partnership early was essential for us."

Sciver-Brunt also highlighted England's depth: "Absolutely, and Sarah Glenn is on the bench as well. We are fortunate to have so many talented cricketers in our squad, which undoubtedly complicates team selection."