Woeful England out of World Cup after South Africa thrashing

ICC Women's World Cup, Guwahati

South Africa 319-7 (50 overs): Wolvaardt 169 (143); Ecclestone 4-44

England 194 (42.3 overs): Sciver-Brunt 64 (76); Kapp 5-20

South Africa won by 125 runs

Scorecard

Dismal England were knocked out of the Women's World Cup after a thumping 125-run defeat by South Africa in the semi-final.

Laura Wolvaardt played one of the great one-day innings with 169 from 143 balls at the top of the order as the Proteas, who lost to England in the previous two World Cup semis, posted an imposing 319-7 in Guwahati.

Faced with a record chase in a knockout game, England suffered a horror start as they slumped to 1-3 with Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight all falling for ducks.

Jones and Knight were both bowled by a fired-up Marizanne Kapp and Beaumont was caught behind off Ayabonga Khaka, but Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey steadied the innings with a composed stand of 105.

The pressure of the chase mounted and Capsey fell shortly after reaching her first ODI fifty before Kapp delivered again, all-but confirming South Africa's win with the wicket of England's captain for 64.

The star all-rounder then added Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean to her tally to finish with a sensational 5-20 as England finished 194 all out.

England batted poorly but they did little wrong in the field; they were at the mercy of Wolvaardt's majestic and chanceless innings.

She timed her knock and South Africa's total to perfection. After 40 overs, they were 202-5 with Wolvaardt on 101, before an astonishing acceleration saw 117 runs pummelled from the last 10.

Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of England's bowlers with 4-44 despite her shoulder injury - she took two wickets in one over when South Africa slipped from 116-0 to 119-3.

But England struggled to keep hold of the momentum as Kapp scored a counter-attacking 42, and despite another three quick wickets falling, Wolvaardt started her onslaught with crucial support from Chloe Tryon's 33 not out.

South Africa will face either India or Australia in their first World Cup final on Sunday, with those two teams playing in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

In the group-stage fixture between these teams, South Africa were skittled for just 69 as England's spinners ripped through them, and it immediately looked like their World Cup campaign was on the ropes.

The resilience shown from their turnaround was incredible, including a surprising win against India, and culminated in this comprehensive performance kickstarted by their inspirational captain.

When the first ball of the match pinged out of the middle of Wolvaardt's bat off to the cover boundary, it felt ominous and the unassuming but steely look of determination never left her face.

It was a masterclass in 50-over batting. She dominated the powerplay as England inexplicably fed her glorious cover drive with too much width, but had to contain herself and settle in after Ecclestone removed Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch, and Sciver-Brunt bowled Sune Luus for one.

Kapp's proactive knock from 33 balls took the pressure off before she holed out off Ecclestone, again forcing Wolvaardt to reset, before she completely took England apart at the death.

Ecclestone completed the 42nd over and that was Wolvaardt's cue to unleash, clubbing 68 from her next 27 balls including eight fours and four sixes.

She manipulated the field and the bowlers at will, giving herself room to go over mid-wicket, only to hit a near-identical ball over cover from the next. England simply had no answers.

Ecclestone and Bell, who took 2-55, held their own but Sciver-Brunt was taken for 67 from eight overs while spinners Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean were targeted for 0-69 and 0-67 respectively.

Tryon's cameo ensured South Africa did not lose momentum after Wolvaardt's dismissal in the 48th over, before the responsibility shifted from one experienced superstar to another to get them to their country's first 50-over final in either men's or women's cricket.