South Africa’s women’s cricket team is approaching the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup with renewed belief and a clear target — to finally advance beyond the semi-finals and reach their maiden final. The Proteas, led by captain Laura Wolvaardt, are buoyed by a recent series win in Pakistan and enter the tournament with both momentum and confidence. Their campaign begins against England on October 3 in Guwahati.
“We’ve had good preparation for this tournament and learned a lot of lessons from past ICC events. In the last few ODI World Cups, we made the semi-finals,” Wolvaardt said. “The belief is very strong on our side going into this tournament. We’d like to keep that momentum going, and we’ll have to play very good cricket in tough conditions.”
Lessons from past heartbreak
The Proteas have built a reputation for consistency, having reached the semi-finals in the last two ODI World Cups and finishing runners-up in consecutive T20 World Cups. Wolvaardt admitted that painful exits, particularly the 2017 semi-final defeat, reshaped the team’s mindset.
“I remember being part of that first semi-final loss in 2017 – it really hurt the group, but it helped us see that we could compete with the best sides in the world. Qualifying for a final one day is more a question of ‘when’ and not ‘if,’” she reflected.
Depth and balance in the squad
South Africa’s strength lies in its blend of experience and youth. Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits anchor the top order, while all-rounder Marizanne Kapp remains the heartbeat of the side. The squad also includes seasoned campaigners Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon, alongside emerging stars Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase.
“Our middle order has really fired recently with players like Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, and Nadine de Klerk finishing games strongly. Marizanne Kapp is one of the best players South Africa has ever had – she always performs in the big moments. Nonkululeko Mlaba has also been phenomenal, and I think she will be crucial in subcontinent conditions,” Wolvaardt noted.
Stiff competition ahead
The South Africa skipper acknowledged that the path to glory will be far from easy. “In these conditions, the local sides are always dangerous. We’ve seen how tough opponents like Australia and England remain, and India’s strength at home speaks for itself. Teams such as Australia, India, and New Zealand prepare meticulously — there’s simply no easy game at this level.”
With balance, belief, and preparation on their side, the Proteas will look to finally turn promise into history.
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