The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 delivered a powerful statement in Guwahati as England Women stamped their authority with a resounding 10-wicket victory over South Africa Women. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium, hosting just its second Women’s ODI, witnessed a clinical display from the four-time champions, who wasted no time in asserting their credentials as one of the favorites for the tournament.
Coming into the match, there was plenty of intrigue. South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, had every reason to believe they could trouble England—after all, they’d managed group-stage victories over the English in both the 2017 and 2022 World Cups. Wolvaardt herself was quietly confident before the toss, noting, “I feel like we’ve beaten them in the group stages in the past World Cups and then lost to them in the semi-final. So we know as a group, we can beat them, especially in the group stages.” Yet, on this occasion, England’s experience, depth, and discipline proved simply too much for the Proteas.
England entered the tournament with high expectations, their squad brimming with both pedigree and recent form. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the captain, was keen to highlight her team’s spin options and batting depth ahead of the clash—a confidence that would soon be justified. The probable XI featured a formidable lineup: Amy Jones, on the verge of 2500 WODI runs; Tammy Beaumont, the seasoned opener with over 4500 runs; Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt herself, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Em Arlott, and Lauren Bell. There was no shortage of talent or experience.
South Africa’s own XI, meanwhile, was not lacking in star power. Wolvaardt, boasting a World Cup average above 58, was joined by Tazmin Brits, Marianne Kapp, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Ayabonga Khaka. The Proteas’ plan was clear: be disciplined, seize their moments, and hope their batting lineup could post a competitive total on what was expected to be a batting-friendly pitch with early bounce and some turn in the middle overs.
But from the outset, it was England’s bowlers who took center stage. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Sciver-Brunt’s charges executed their plans to perfection. South Africa’s innings never got out of first gear. Wickets tumbled in quick succession, with Sinalo Jafta the only batter to show any real resistance, top-scoring with 22. The rest of the lineup simply couldn’t cope with the relentless pressure applied by England’s bowlers.
The star of the show was Linsey Smith, whose swing and control proved devastating. Smith finished with remarkable figures of 3 wickets for just 7 runs, earning her the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on her performance, Smith shared, “The conditions were ideal for my bowling. I just tried to keep it simple and trust myself. I have to thank Charlotte Edwards for her advice on new ball tactics—it really helped.” Her impact was felt immediately, breaking a crucial partnership and never letting South Africa settle.
Backing up Smith were England’s reliable spin duo, Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean, each chipping in with two wickets apiece. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt also claimed two scalps, further underlining England’s bowling depth. South Africa’s collapse was swift and brutal—the final score: 69 all out in just 20.4 overs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt was effusive in her praise after the match, saying, “I’m really pleased with how the team performed today. Our fielding was sharp, and getting those early breakthroughs was key. Linsey Smith’s ability to swing the ball made a huge difference. I feel lucky to have such talented players in the squad.”
For South Africa, it was a chastening start to their campaign. Wolvaardt didn’t mince words in her post-match reflections: “It’s a tough way to start the tournament. Our batting just wasn’t good enough today. Credit to England’s new-ball attack, especially Linsey Smith, who really made it swing. We struggled to adapt and lost wickets too quickly. We have to learn from this, move on, and stay positive for the matches ahead.”
With such a paltry total to defend, the South African bowlers faced an uphill battle. England’s openers, Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, approached the chase with calm assurance. The pair rotated the strike efficiently, pouncing on loose deliveries and steadily increasing the scoring rate. Boundaries flowed with regularity—Beaumont, in particular, was in fine touch, sealing the win with a crisp boundary in the 14.1 over. The final tally: England 70 for no loss in just 15 overs, a dominant 10-wicket triumph.
The outcome was never really in doubt once the English bowlers had done their work. South Africa’s bowlers, including Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas, tried valiantly to apply pressure, but with so few runs to defend, the margin for error was razor-thin. England’s openers gave nothing away, ensuring there were no nervous moments for their side.
This result further strengthens England’s reputation as a powerhouse in women’s ODI cricket. Their historical record against South Africa now reads an imposing 36 wins from 47 encounters, with South Africa managing just 10 victories and one no result. For South Africa, the challenge is to regroup quickly—Wolvaardt’s call for resilience and learning from past successes will be crucial as they look to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
The Barsapara pitch, as predicted, played true with good bounce early on and a little help for spinners in the middle overs. Yet, it was England’s adaptability and execution that truly set them apart. The presentation ceremony that followed was a celebration of standout performances, with Smith deservedly taking home the Player of the Match honors.
Looking ahead, England will take great confidence from this performance as they set their sights on progressing deep into the tournament. For South Africa, the road gets tougher, but the World Cup is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s still time for redemption, but they’ll need to find answers quickly if they’re to challenge the world’s best.
All told, Guwahati witnessed a masterclass from England Women—a reminder to the rest of the field that the path to World Cup glory will have to go through them. South Africa, meanwhile, will be eager to prove this was just a blip, not a sign of things to come.
