During a high‑stakes group‑stage encounter, Marizanne Kapp steered South Africa to a six‑wicket victory over India, guiding the Proteas from 25/2 in the powerplay to successfully chase 159. Partnering with debutant Tazmin Brits, she anchored the chase and sealed the win.
Kapp and Brits forged a 97‑run partnership for the third wicket, despite Kapp dropping two difficult chances at 9 and 25 and a straightforward one at 65. She concluded with an unbeaten 81 off 45 deliveries, while the bowling attack restricted Deepti Sharma to just 44 runs from her four overs.
Playing on a fresh Old Trafford surface and opting to set a target, India’s batting never fully clicked, with Shafali Verma’s 31 serving as the highest individual score. Kapp contributed with two wickets for 27 runs and proved the most economical bowler for South Africa.
The outcome maintains a tightly contested group, with both India and South Africa tied on four points. India must defeat Bangladesh and Australia, while South Africa’s remaining fixtures are against Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
India off to a rollicking start with bat
Shafali Verma began aggressively, clipping a boundary through short fine leg after Kapp slipped onto the pads. When Shabnim Ismail increased her pace, Shafali exploited the extra speed, driving through cover point and later passing to Smriti Mandhana, who powered through the covers and executed a swivel pull through fine leg for 14 runs off the opening over. Mandhana continued her inventive strokeplay, walking down the pitch to attack Kapp before attempting a ramp shot that resulted in a no‑run. Although Chloe Tryon delivered the fourth over, Shafali capitalised on the first three deliveries, racing to 14 runs and unsettling South Africa. India reached 47/1 after four overs.
South Africa get a surprise wicket and pull India back
A fortunate break came for South Africa when Shafali attempted a pull off Ismail’s fourth delivery of her second over, missed, and was caught off the glove, with replays confirming the catch to Sinalo Jafta. Yastika Bhatia, promoted ahead of Bharti Fulmali, was bowled lbw by Ayabonga Khaka’s second ball, while Jemimah Rodrigues edged a leading shot to Nadine de Klerk, leaving India 82/4 in the 11th over.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti took charge, with Kaur opening with a boundary off Tryon and then adding 12 runs off Mlaba before requiring a brief injury break. She was dismissed for 24 after two balls, caught by Ismail’s wobble‑seam delivery. South Africa restricted Richa Ghosh, compelling Deepti to attempt a sweeping shot that resulted in a catch at short fine leg, while Ghosh also surrendered a catch off Kapp’s slower delivery in the final over. The chase slowed, yielding only 36 runs in the last four overs.
India also off to a rollicking start with ball
South Africa’s chase began poorly, with captain Laura Wolvaardt struggling for fluency. On 20 off 19 balls, she attempted a shot against N Shree Charani, only to edge it straight back to the left‑arm spinner, who took a clean return catch. Charani’s next over improved when Annerie Dercksen attempted an aggressive across‑the‑line stroke and was bowled. The powerplay concluded with a wicket‑maiden, leaving South Africa 25/2 and well adrift of the required run rate.
Kapp and Brits turn it on
After falling to 45/2 after nine overs, South Africa relied on Kapp’s experience and Brits’s renewed determination. Kapp amassed 10 runs off the opening two balls of Prema Rawat’s over, including a signature ramp shot that featured later in the innings. Brits patiently waited before launching Deepti over long‑on for a six, and the partnership reached 50 runs in the 12th over, after Brits successfully reviewed a lbw decision at 28. Both batters capitalised on the chances India gave them, even when boundaries were elusive.
The decisive breakthrough arrived in the 15th over, when South Africa amassed 16 runs off Arundhati Reddy. Brits lofted the ball over her head for four, and Kapp followed with a fine scoop and a consecutive sweep for back‑to‑back boundaries, effectively ending India’s chase.
