'The Wolf' standing between England and the World Cup final

England are one win away from the World Cup final.

If the defending champions are to secure a showdown with Australia on Sunday, then they may need to keep the No 1-ranked batter in women's ODI cricket quiet during Thursday's semi-final.

South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, nicknamed 'The Wolf', has usurped Australia's Alyssa Healy at the top of the standings after hitting a leading 433 runs at the World Cup, with five fifties in seven knocks, including a top-score of 90 against Australia.

The opener, 22, made one of her half-centuries against England, profiting from three dropped catches and a missed stumping to notch 77 from 101 balls in a three-wicket, last-over win for her side in the group stage.

Wolvaardt possesses one of the most coruscating cover drives in the game but says adding to her skills has been key in her ascent to No 1 in the world.

The Cape Town-born player has taken it upon herself to score at a brisker rate in this World Cup, with opening partner Lizelle Lee, who usually provides the power to Wolvaardt's panache, enduring a lean tournament with four single-figure scores out of six.

Wolvaardt said: "I have been working on power hitting and have added a couple more shots to my game, whether it's hitting the spinners over the top or one or two sweeps - not too many yet, though! I have become a little bit stronger as well. Back in high school, I didn't really go to the gym.

"Normally we rely on Lizelle to be explosive in the powerplay and get our strike rate up so it has been a new phase of navigating for me, trying to bat through but still get us off to a decent start.

"I have enjoyed it and am slowly getting better at it every game. Hopefully, I won't have to do it again and she will be smashing it.

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