Kapp Pulls Off Historic Chase Against India At Old Trafford
The Proteas Women produced a remarkable six-wicket victory over India in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford in Manchester, keeping their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup firmly alive.
In a contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, it was the brilliance of Marizanne Kapp that ultimately proved decisive. Her sensational unbeaten 81 off just 45 deliveries — an innings featuring seven fours and four sixes at a blistering strike rate of 180 — propelled South Africa to a memorable victory.
The innings ranks as the second-highest score in a successful chase in Women’s T20 World Cup history, behind only Shemaine Campbell’s unbeaten 90 against New Zealand.
India made a flying start through Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who raced to 30 runs in the opening three overs. It was Player of the Match Kapp who provided the breakthrough, dismissing Mandhana, but India continued to dictate proceedings. The side surged to 59/2 in the powerplay, laying a solid platform and appearing well on course for a formidable total.
However, the dismissal of Verma proved to be a pivotal moment. Caught by Sinalo Jafta off the bowling of Shabnim Ismail, her departure stalled India’s momentum and triggered a significant slowdown in the scoring rate — a period that would ultimately prove costly.
Yastika Bhatia, promoted to No. 3 ahead of Jemimah Rodrigues, was trapped lbw by Ayabonga Khaka after being struck on the back foot in front of the stumps. South Africa then struck another crucial blow when Rodrigues fell for 12 off 14 deliveries, deceived by a Nadine de Klerk slower ball and returning a simple caught-and-bowled chance.
By the time Rodrigues departed, India’s innings had lost much of its early momentum, slipping to 83/4 in the 11th over as the Proteas tightened their grip on the match.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma attempted to rebuild the innings while laying the foundation for a late assault. However, their partnership of 33 runs from 26 deliveries consumed valuable balls without generating the acceleration India desperately needed, allowing South Africa to remain in control.
India struggled to find the boundary consistently and runs became increasingly difficult to come by. They eventually closed on 158/7, having added just 99 runs in the 14 overs following the powerplay. Scoring at little more than seven runs an over during that period, India fell well short of the total they would have targeted after such a blistering start, with what once appeared to be a daunting score ultimately proving below par.
India began their bowling innings confidently, restricting South Africa to just 25 runs in the powerplay while removing the key wickets of captain Laura Wolvaardt and the hero of the previous match, Annerie Dercksen, for 20 and a duck respectively. With the Proteas’ chase stuttering early, India appeared firmly in control.
With South Africa in a precarious position, a daunting task lay ahead. It was then left to Tazmin Brits and Kapp to seize the initiative, combining composure with calculated aggression as they guided the Proteas back into the contest.
The pair put together a match-defining 97-run partnership from just 63 deliveries, with Kapp taking centre stage in a vintage display of strokeplay. She showcased the full range of her batting repertoire, expertly targeting the areas behind and square of the wicket, where she consistently found the gaps and kept the scoreboard moving at a decisive pace.
Kapp was handed two reprieves by the Indian fielders, but by the time Brits was dismissed for a well-compiled 40 off 36 balls — having played the ideal supporting role — South Africa had shifted the momentum significantly. The partnership lifted the scoring rate from just over four runs an over after the powerplay to 7.6, while reducing the required rate to 9.25 and breathing new life into the chase.
With Kapp firmly in control and determined to see the job through, De Klerk came and went for just five with the score on 137, leaving South Africa needing 18 runs from the final two overs.
Kapp then took complete control, launching Deepti Sharma for two sixes in the penultimate over as 16 runs flowed from it, swinging the momentum decisively in South Africa’s favour.
Chloe Tryon sealed a crucial victory in dramatic fashion, edging the first ball of the final over to spark jubilant celebrations. As Kapp dropped to one knee, the magnitude of her match-winning innings became evident before she and Tryon shared a warm embrace in a fitting conclusion to a memorable chase.
INDIA – 158/7
Deepti Sharma 29 (21 balls), Shafali Verma 31 (15 balls), Harmanpreet Kaur 24 (22 balls)
Marizanne Kapp 2/27 (4 overs), Shabnim Ismail 2/28 (4 overs)
SOUTH AFRICA – 161/4
Marizanne Kapp 81* (45 balls), Tazmin Brits 40 (36 balls)
Shree Charani 3/24 (4 overs), Shafali Verma 1/22 (4 overs)
