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The Proteas Women have reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 after a commanding 10-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka on October 19, in India. The victory marks South Africa’s fifth straight win and confirms their position among the tournament’s top contenders.
What Happened
South Africa sealed qualification undoubtedly after rain reduced the match to a shortened contest. Led by captain Laura Wolvaardt, the Proteas chased down the target with ease, thanks to an unbroken opening stand from Tazmin Brits and Wolvaardt herself.
Their journey has been one of determination and turnaround. After a disappointing start with a heavy defeat to England, the Proteas bounced back with strong wins over New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The team now sits second on the standings, behind only Australia, with two group games remaining.
Wolvaardt’s consistency and composure have been central to the revival, while Nadine de Klerk has delivered crucial all-round displays that kept the campaign alive. Brits, finding her form at the right time, struck a century against New Zealand and followed it with another match-winning innings against Sri Lanka.
Official Response
Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt expressed pride in her team’s turnaround:
“We’ve shown great resilience since the first game. Everyone has stepped up, and we’re peaking at the right time. Our focus now is to keep building momentum heading into the semis.”
Cricket South Africa (CSA) also lauded the achievement, stating that the squad has “made the nation proud with their fight, unity, and professionalism on the global stage.”
Community Impact
The victory has sparked national celebration, with fans, former players, and sporting figures flooding social media with praise. Many hailed the team’s rise as a reflection of women’s cricket’s growing strength in South Africa.
As excitement builds ahead of their next matches against Pakistan and Australia, many South Africans are daring to dream of a historic first world title.
