An incredible all-round performance by Marizanne Kapp powered South Africa to a thrilling six-wicket win over India in the Women's T20 World Cup in Manchester on Sunday, according to the ICC website. Kapp claimed 2/27 to restrict India to 158/7 and then scored an unbeaten 81, including four sixes, to lead her team to 161/4 in 19.1 overs.
South Africa's record chase
It was South Africa's highest successful chase in a Women's T20 World Cup and the third highest overall. The win over one of the tournament's heavyweights may be the spark the Proteas needed to revive their campaign after two shaky performances. For India, this was their first defeat of the tournament.
India's batting innings
Electing to bat first, India made a flying start as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma powered them to 23 in the first two overs. Kapp struck early by dismissing Mandhana for a duck, and Shabnim Ismail then removed Verma for 31, who had hit four fours and a six. India posted 59/2 in the powerplay but failed to capitalize. All Indian batters got starts but none converted. In her 200th T20I, captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 24, while Deepti Sharma's 29 helped India cross 150. South Africa's pace duo of Kapp and Ismail (2/28) restricted India, conceding only 76 runs and taking four wickets in the last 10 overs.
South Africa's chase and Kapp's brilliance
India started the second innings strongly, with Sree Charani (3/24) taking a double-wicket maiden in the final over of the powerplay to leave South Africa at 25/2. However, Kapp stitched a 97-run partnership with Tazmin Brits (40) to guide South Africa back on track. They navigated the tricky early phase by picking gaps and keeping the scoring rate ticking. Once settled, they took 16 runs from the 15th over. Although Kapp lost Brits and Nadine De Klerk, she kept the pressure on India by going for her shots.
With 18 runs needed from the last two overs, Kapp hit two sixes against Deepti Sharma, the joint-highest wicket-taker in women's international cricket, and took 16 runs from the over. Chloe Tyron then hit a four to seal the win. As the South African dugout erupted, an emotional Kapp sank to a knee, the adrenaline leaving her body after the match-winning heroics.
Standings and implications
South Africa climbed to third place in Group A, while India remained second. The win puts South Africa back in contention for the semi-finals.
