2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup: “We owe them one” - South Africa out for revenge against England in semi-final
South Africa hoping to reach first ODI World Cup final
The South African Women’s cricket team has enjoyed an impressive few years on the international circuit, reaching back-to-back T20I World Cup finals, and they are now hoping to do likewise in the ODI format.
Indeed, the Proteas have reached the last four of the ODI Women’s Cricket World Cup in each of the last three editions but have never got to the final. In each of the previous two editions, it was none other than England that sent them packing.
Unsurprisingly then, for South Africa, this match is about much more than just victory; it’s a chance to get their revenge. These were also the sentiments shared by veteran Marizanne Kapp during her pre-match interview with the media. She said:
“I feel like we owe them one,” Kapp told Independent Newspapers. “In the previous ODI World Cup, we beat them in the group-stage games, and then they gave us a hiding in the semi-finals.”
However, England will certainly not make this easy for the Proteas, and they have momentum on their side, having only lost one of their seven group-stage matches, which included a record-breaking victory over South Africa in their opening match of the tournament.
One major factor that South Africa will have to address if they are to get the win here will be their struggles against spin, having lost seven wickets to Alana King in their last match, while that was also the same number of wickets they lost to spinners against England in their group-stage encounter.
Key stats ahead of ENG-RSA final four clash
England enter this match as the clear favourite at the books, and according to our England Women vs. South Africa Women prediction, our experts are expecting the Lionesses to get off to a solid start to this one.
The English Women ended the group stage with 11 points from their seven matches (W5 L1 1NR) and a net run rate of +1.233. The only game they lost in the competition was against Australia, while their clash against Pakistan was abandoned.
After that crushing defeat to the Lionesses in their opening match, South Africa bounced back in style, notching up five wins on the bounce to book their place in the semis, before going down to Australia in their final match of the group.
As far as head-to-head records go, these two sides have met a total of 47 times in ODIs, and England have dominated the fixture, securing 36 wins, while South Africa have 10 victories, and one match ended in a no result.
South Africa ODI Squad:
Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon
England ODI Squad:
Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
