Veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp played a remarkable innings, scoring an unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to guide South Africa to a thrilling six-wicket win over India in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Old Trafford. South Africa, chasing 159, struggled initially but Kapp’s aggressive batting turned the game around, hitting seven fours and four sixes.
Despite N Sree Charani’s three wickets for India, Kapp’s partnership with Tazmin Brits, who made 40 runs, proved crucial. Kapp’s innings, supported by Chloe Tryon’s contributions, secured South Africa’s victory, handing India their first defeat in the tournament. South Africa’s disciplined bowling restricted India to 158/7, with Kapp and Shabnim Ismail taking two wickets each.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s milestone 200th T20I appearance for India was overshadowed by South Africa’s strong performance. India’s batting, led by Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, showed promise but failed to accelerate. Despite some resistance from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh, India fell short of a competitive total, ending their innings at 158/7.
South Africa’s chase, anchored by Kapp’s brilliant knock, saw Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits providing valuable support. Kapp’s aggressive strokeplay, including crucial boundaries and sixes, ensured South Africa’s successful chase. With contributions from other batters, South Africa reached the target with Kapp finishing unbeaten on 81, sealing a memorable victory.
