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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt was in need of a daddy hundred in Women's World Cup 2025, and on Wednesday, during the semis against England, she finally got that. The 26-year-old went berserk against the English bowlers and scored a humongous 169 in 143 deliveries, to lead her side to 319/7. 

And as the score indicates, she set several records on her way. To begin with, she is the first skipper ever to have achieved a ton in Women's World Cup, in a knockout encounter. Besides that, she equaled the record for highest 50+ scores in ODI World Cup, along with India's Mithali Raj, 13 each, but the South African did it in just 23 matches. 

Now, she is also the topmost run-scorer in the 2025 season, and has 470 runs in 8 games, at an average of 67, with three fifties and a hundred. Finally, she became the first South African to score 5000 runs in ODIs, in women's cricket. So, that makes her the sixth topmost run-getter in women's ODIs, behind Mithali, Charlotte Edwards, Suzie Bates, Stephanie Taylor, Smriti Mandhana. 

Alongside, this knock by Laura Wolvaardt brings back memories of Harmanpreet Kaur's 171 vs Australia, also in the semis, of the 2017 World Cup. She single-handedly took India into the final of that tournament. The South African gained speed once she reached her century, and hit 20 fours and four sixes during her innings. 

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She received bit of support from Taznim Brits, who scored 45, Marizanne Kapp (42) and Chloe Tryon (33). Rest of the batswomen failed to capitalize on starts.

Laura Wolvaardt's 169, which set a new record, will be etched as one of the greatest knocks in Women's World Cup history. Her knock not only propelled South Africa to the final but also cemented her place as one of the all-time greats of modern cricket.