South Africa rode one of the great individual performances from Marizanne Kapp to earn a stunning three-wicket victory over the defending champions England in the ICC Womens World Cup on Monday.
Kapp, took a maiden ODI ‘five-for’, created a crucial run out late in England’s innings and then scored a vital 32 off 42 balls as South Africa chased its highest ever total at a World Cup, knocking the 236 needed for victory with four balls to spare at Bay Oval in Tauranga.
The experienced Marizanne Kapp picked up a maiden five-wicket haul to help South Africa restrict the 2017 champions to 235 for nine after putting their opponents in to bat at Mount Maunganui.
The Proteas stayed calm throughout a tricky run-chase with opener Laura Wolvaardt anchoring the innings, although she had numerous slices of good fortune as England’s poor fielding in the tournament, which proved costly against the West Indies in their last match, continued.
Wolvaardt was given four chances, as she was dropped three time, including on nought by Tammy Beaumont in the second over, and then a missed stumping by England wicketkeeper, Amy Jones on 51.
Wolvaardt went on to make the top score of 77 which came off 101 balls and included eight fours.
She shared partnerships of 66 runs for the second wicket with Tazmin Brits (23 off 46 balls), and 73 for the third wicket with skipper Sune Luus, who made 36. That partnership was particularly important because the pair lifted South Africa’s scoring rate, at vital time in the innings, with England’s left-arm spinner, Sophie Eccelstone, proving very hard to score against.
However it still got close after South Africa lost three wickets for 22 runs in 29 deliveries.
That’s when Kapp stepped to the fore. She milked singles smartly and struck a critical six - the only one of the match - off Heather Brunt in the 46th over, to keep the required rate below a run a ball.
After she was dismissed in the penultimate over, Shabnim Ismail, hit the first ball she faced for four over point, to all but seal a historic win for the Proteas, only their second against England in a World Cup. The last time they did so was also when the tournament was held in New Zealand in 2000.
South Africa’s next match is against the home team, the White Ferns in Hamilton on Thursday.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus (capt), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka
ENGLAND: Danni Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (capt). Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Anya Shrubsole