Kapp's World Cup Heroics
Marizanne Kapp's Unbeaten 81 Powers South Africa to Crucial T20 World Cup Victory Over India
Key Points
The Group A match at Old Trafford was a “must-win” thriller, played in front of 11,712 fans, and it was decided in the final over.
During South Africa’s chase, Marizanne Kapp was given “reprieves twice by Radha Yadav” before she went on to complete the winning knock.
India’s innings accelerated strongly late as well: they reached 50 in 4.2 overs, were 113/4 at the second drinks break (12.5 overs), and finished by scoring 45 runs in their final six overs to close on 158/7.
Shree Charani’s turning point came via a double-wicket maiden: she took a return catch after luring Laura into a lofted drive, then dismissed Annerie Dercksen (bowled for a duck) to leave South Africa reeling at 25/2.
Marizanne Kapp smashed an unbeaten 81 off just 45 balls to power South Africa past India by six wickets in a pulsating ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group A match at Old Trafford on Sunday. South Africa chased down 159 with five balls to spare, finishing 161/4 in 19.1 overs, in front of 11,712 fans — one of the biggest crowds for a non-England women's group match at the tournament Newsday.
The win was a must-have for South Africa, who had already lost to Australia. It keeps their semi-final hopes alive. For India, a night of dropped catches and sloppy fielding cost them dearly — despite a historic milestone for captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who became the first cricketer in history, male or female, to play 200 T20 internationals NDTV Sports.
Kapp Turns the Game with a 97-Run Stand
South Africa's chase looked in serious trouble early. India spinner Shree Charani bowled a double-wicket maiden in the 6th over. She took a return catch to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt, then clean-bowled Annerie Dercksen for a duck. South Africa slumped to 25/2 at the end of the powerplay Olympics.com.
Then Kapp and Tazmin Brits took over. The pair built a 97-run partnership that changed everything. Brits made a steady 40 off 36 balls. Kapp went from 50 to 81* in just 11 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes in total. "I was just praying to be honest," Kapp said after the match. "I struggled in the first few balls, but then it clicked" Newsday.
Two Dropped Catches Let Kapp Off the Hook
India's fielding handed South Africa a lifeline — twice. Substitute fielder Radha Yadav dropped Kapp when she was on 25. Then, with South Africa needing a wicket desperately in the 17th over, Yadav put down another chance with Kapp on 65 Newsday. Both drops proved fatal to India's hopes.
Kapp made India pay in full. In the 19th over, she hit Deepti Sharma for two sixes, leaving just 2 runs needed from the final over. Chloe Tryon hit the winning boundary in the very first ball of the 19th over NDTV Sports. Harmanpreet admitted afterwards: "Marizanne Kapp was fearless and she took the game away from us" SFGATE.
India's Bright Start Could Not Hide Middle-Over Struggles
India batted with aggression early. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma raced to 59/2 by the end of the powerplay, reaching 50 in just 4.2 overs. But the middle overs slowed them down. South Africa's Shabnim Ismail took 2/28, and Kapp chipped in with 2/27. India stuttered to 83/4 and were 113/4 at the drinks break after 12.5 overs Indian Express.
India recovered somewhat late, scoring 45 runs in their final six overs to close on 158/7. Shafali Verma finished with 31 and Deepti Sharma added 29. Charani was India's best bowler with 3/24. But the total, set on a Manchester surface known to help spinners, was not enough to stop Kapp SuperSport.
Harmanpreet's 200th Cap Overshadowed by Defeat
Before the toss, India coach Amol Muzumdar presented Harmanpreet Kaur with a special "200" jersey to mark her world-record 200th T20 international. No cricketer — man or woman — has ever played that many. She leads Suzie Bates (184) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (183) on the all-time list NDTV Sports.
But Harmanpreet managed only 24 off 22 balls in the landmark game. India now face a crunch final group match against Australia at Lord's — a venue already sold out. A loss there could knock India out on net run rate if South Africa beat the Netherlands in Bristol Newsday. South Africa's NRR sits at -0.546 compared to India's +2.511, so the math is tight but the stakes could not be higher.
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