Laura Wolvaardt Becomes No. I Batsman, Shares Her Thoughts On Semi-finals Vs England

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt contemplates the World Cup semi-final against England and talks about her picture-perfect cover drives.

England are one win away from the World Cup final, so is South Africa. If the defending champions are to secure a showdown with Australia on Sunday, they may have to get the wicket of No.1-ranked in ODI women’s cricket going through Thursday’s semi-final.

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, nicknamed ‘The Wolf’, usurped Australia’s Alyssa Healy at the top of the standings after leading 433 runs at the World Cup, with five fifty in the last seven matches, including a top-score of 90 against Australia.

The 22-year-old opener had one of her half-centuries against England, taking advantage of three missed catches to score 77 off 101 in a three-wicket win. In the last group stage match, she scored 79 off 78 balls to help South Africa chase down the 270 total.

Laura Wolvaardt has one of the most exciting cover records in the game. The Cape Town-born player has taken it upon herself to score at a good strike rate in this World Cup. Her opening partner Lizelle Lee, who usually powers Wolvaardt’s panache, endured a lean tournament with four scores to one figure out of six.

Laura Wolvaardt said: “I’ve been working on the power hits and adding a few more shots to my game, whether it’s hitting the spinners over the top or a sweep or two – not too many yet, However! I got a little stronger. In high school, I didn’t really go to the gym.”

Normally we rely on Lizelle Lee to be explosive in the power play and to pace up the innings, so this has been a new phase of navigation for me, trying to be sensible but still allowing us to get off to a good start.”

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Laura Wolvaardt is the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup. Currently, she is four runs ahead of Australia’s Rachael Haynes.

On his dreamy cover, Wolvaardt added: “This is my favourite shot, something I’ve always been naturally good at.

“Opening the bat was very helpful because where the bowlers are bowling they try to take you out, so I think a good cover drive practice helps.”

Laura Wolvaardt scored 66 runs in South Africa’s narrow two-wicket defeat to England in the 2017 World Cup semi-final in Bristol.

This defeat for the Proteas means that the country is still waiting for its women’s or men’s team to reach a World Cup final.

Laura Wolvaardt hopes that will change this week, citing her side’s recent wins against Pakistan, England, New Zealand and India as proof that she can “keep her cool” in key moments.