England’s hopes of Women’s World Cup glory ended abruptly with a heavy 125-run defeat to South Africa, but what did we learn from their semi-final exit?
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt smashed 169 from 143 balls to push the Proteas to 319-7 in Guwahati, before Marizanne Kapp's five-wicket haul - including two in a chaotic opening over - helped dismiss England for 194 in the 43rd over.
England had reached the 50-over final in three of the previous four 50-over World Cups, including home victory in the 2017 edition, but will now sit out of Sunday's showpiece event between South Africa and India.
Victory for South Africa, who suffered semi-final heartache against England at the previous two World Cups, was made more remarkable by the fact they were beaten by 10 wickets - having been skittled for 69 - when the two sides met earlier in the competition.
"Three and a half weeks ago, when England played South Africa on this very ground, they absolutely hammered them," former England captain Nasser Hussain told SportNews Cricket
"When South Africa left here [after group stage loss] you worried for them a little bit. They won their next five games and have now come back here in a semi-final and done to England what England did to them.
"It is a team game made up of individuals, but those two individuals were so far above every other cricketer on show today. Laura Wolvaardt with the bat and Marizanne Kapp with the ball were just magnificent and just too good for England."
Amy Jones, Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont were all dismissed for ducks, inside the opening seven deliveries, as England made the worst possible start to their bid for a record chase in a women's knockout game.
England head coach Charlotte Edwards insisted post-match that England are making progress, having come into the role after their 16-0 Ashes drubbing earlier this year, but will now not feature in the final for the first time since 2013.
"I think with Charlotte Edwards you probably did [expect more] because, like she said there, she's a winner," Hussain explained. "She won't put up with mediocrity and people coasting.
"It does take time to change a culture and I think that's what she had to do. Nat Sciver-Brunt mentioned it too, from the previous regime to this regime.
"My areas of concern are that they're still too heavily reliant on Nat Sciver-Brunt and very similar, repetitive nature of dismissals for the top three - the ball nipping back in or swinging back in. What are they doing to correct that?"
England won five of their seven matches in the group stage, with their match against Pakistan a no-result due to rain and their only defeat coming against title favourites Australia, although could England's players have offered more?
"When you look at some of the opposition, young players and people who have been around for a while, like [Annabel] Sutherland and Ash Gardner or Tazmin Brits, England's young players are not progressing," Hussain admitted.
"Sophia Dunkley's had a poor tournament and Alice Capsey, until today (semi-final defeat), too. I think it's a sign of a coach and a system that if your young players are progressing, then that is a good sign that you're getting things right in the dressing room.
"Your greats will always become better and better. Nat Sciver-Brunt will always become a better and better cricketer, that's why she's a great, but I'd like to see the young players progress."
England Women host the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil from June 12 to July 15, along with home series against New Zealand, India and Ireland, with Hussain explaining the challenge of weaving players into the international set-up over the next year.
"Freya Kemp is good, but she's a bit more of a finisher. Jodi Grewcock at Essex, who I saw in The Hundred a little bit, is pretty talented. The only problem is these names we've mentioned; Davina Perrin, Grewcock, Tilly Corteen-Coleman - they're still quite a bit of experience away.
"How you start introducing some of these young players - under a superb coach in Charlotte Edwards - is going to be important, so you do progress them as cricketers.
"It's so easy to say after Davina Perrin gets that 100 in The Hundred that she must play, but there's a big step from that to the next level, playing for your country. And with Corteen-Coleman, they've got two very good left-arm spinners already, so do you play a third?
"There are still areas to improve. I wouldn't say there's been massive progress. They look fitter, the fielding's better. Their coach is a superb coach that will make them better, if you give her time."
