Brilliant Kapp leads South Africa past India

Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 1, Manchester

India 158-7 (20 overs): Verma 31 (15); Kapp 2-27, Ismail 2-28

South Africa 161-4 (19.1 overs): Kapp 81 (45); Charani 3-24

South Africa won by six wickets

Scorecard, Table

Marizanne Kapp struck a powerful unbeaten 81 as South Africa beat India by six wickets to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Having taken 2-27 with the ball, the all-rounder struck seven fours and four sixes in a 45-ball innings as the Proteas chased down a target of 159 with five balls to spare.

Kapp joined Tazmin Brits at the crease at 25-2 in the final over of the powerplay and the pair began slowly, only reaching 59 at the halfway mark, before steadily beginning to accumulate.

With their partnership three short of a century Brits departed for a 36-ball 40, caught in the deep off Shafali Verma, while Kapp survived a drop by Radha Yadav later in the over.

She took advantage, hammering two sixes in Deepti Sharma’s penultimate over, before Chloe Tyron edged a winning four off Nandni Sharma.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur – playing a record 200th T20 international – had chosen to bat and Shafali Verma got her side off to a strong start, striking three fours and a six in a 15-ball 31.

Her innings helped India reach 59-2 at the end of the powerplay, but by that point both openers were back in the dugout, with Smriti Mandhana bowled having missed a scoop shot and Verma gloving a short ball behind.

India were unable to press on from their platform, with none of their subsequent batters managing to outscore Shafali.

Deepti threatened for a time, striking 29 from 21 deliveries, but both she and Richa Ghosh chipped tamely to short fine leg as India closed on 158-7.

South Africa now join their opponents on four points, behind group leaders Australia on six.

They have fixtures with Bangladesh and the Netherlands to play, while the result likely makes India’s match against Australia at Lord’s on 28 June crucial to the outcome of the group.

Having lost by 65 runs to Australia in their opening fixture, South Africa knew they had to beat India if they were to have any realistic hopes of taking one of two semi-final spots from group one.

Kapp kept them in the mix in India’s innings, bowling Mandhana as she attempted a scoop shot, after which she roared with delight, then removing dangerous lower-order batter Ghosh later in the innings.

She came into bat with South Africa in a precarious position after leg-spinner Sree Charani took two wickets in three balls, grabbing a return catch off Laura Wolvaardt and then bowling Annerie Dercksen.

The required run-rate swiftly climbed to more than 10 an over, but Kapp and Brits stuck together to build a platform from which they could accelerate.

After Brits found the hands of Charani at deep square, Kapp responded with a flat six down the ground, but should have caught from the following ball when Radha shelled a chance running in from the rope at long-on.

From there Kapp was in control, twice launching Deepti over the mid-wicket ropes to set-up Tyron’s winning runs.

“She is probably the biggest big-match player I’ve ever seen. I’m really glad she’s on my team,” captain Wolvaardt said of Kapp.

“Whenever something is on the line or we’re playing in a World Cup she finds a way.

“She said she didn’t feel great today so I hope she doesn’t feel great every game! She just has that competitive nature and it brings out the best in her.”