Kapp, Wolvaardt power Proteas past England

A five-wicket haul from Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt’s 77 propelled the Proteas to a three-wicket win over England in the Women’s World Cup on Monday.

The win takes South Africa to second spot in the eight-team standings. With six points, they are now behind Australia on net run rate.

There’s a lot to ponder for defending champions England, who are on the verge of crashing out of the tournament having suffered three consecutive defeats.

Player of the Match Kapp was the star of the show with the ball, and then, the bat.

She finished with a five-wicket haul – the first of her ODI career – to help restrict England to 235-9. She walked in to bat in the 36th over at 158-4 and almost batted through, scoring a steady 32 to push South Africa close to the finish line.

Chasing 236 for their third win on the trot in this World Cup, the start wasn’t ideal for the Proteas. Anya Shrubsole went through the gate of Lizelle Lee and rattled the stumps with a brilliant inswinger to end her innings for nine.

Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then steadied the ship with a 56-run stand for the second wicket. They mixed caution with aggression perfectly to ensure more wickets did not fall in the powerplay.

Nat Sciver was brought into the attack and the move paid off immediately – Brits holed out in the deep in an attempt to clear the ropes. Wolvaardt and Luus had to once again steady the ship for South Africa after the wicket.

The partnership of 73 between the two experienced batters came at a good pace, ensuring the required run rate didn’t climb out of control. Wolvaardt continued her good form in the World Cup, bringing up her second consecutive fifty in the tournament in the 31st over.

Some brilliant glovework from Amy Jones brought an end to Luus’ innings for 36. Her wicket triggered a mini collapse, with Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez (eight) following her back to the pavilion in the following overs.

Chloe Tryon hit a couple of boundaries to keep the required rate in check but was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker’s end after the ball grazed Brunt’s fingers on to the stumps.

Needing 31 off 30, Kapp eased the pressure with a six off Brunt to bring the required rate below run a ball. Luck was on the side of the Proteas as a thick edge off Sophie Ecclestone’s bowling went for a four, bringing the equation down to 11 off 12.

There was yet another twist in the tale as Shrubsole trapped Kapp in front of the stumps in the penultimate over before Shabnim Ismail smashed a four off her first ball. Needing four to win in the last over, South Africa got across the line with four balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones helped England set a respectable target of 236.

Kapp led the bowling attack in the absence of Ismail, who had to go off the field after bowling only five overs.

Kapp was brilliant in the powerplay and, at the death, finished with figures of 10-1-45-5, the best in the 2022 World Cup so far as well as the best for a South African in Women’s World Cup history.

England were three down for 42 inside the first 12 overs, with Kapp accounting for two wickets inside the powerplay.

Put in to bat first after Luus won the toss, England lost Danni Wyatt in the second over to Kapp, with Wolvaardt completing a juggling catch at point. Kapp then dismissed the skipper, Heather Knight, who dragged it on to her own stumps for nine.

Sciver came in and smashed three quick boundaries but found a bizarre way of getting out – she missed the pull and the ball ricocheted off her body, hit the back of the bat into the hands of slip.

Jones and Tammy Beaumont led the recovery cautiously, rotating strike instead of going for the big hits. Slowly but steadily, they rebuilt the innings and went on to bring on their respective fifties. Jones was the aggressor between the two, finding the ropes with regularity.

They put on 107 runs for the fourth wicket before Masabata Klaas trapped Beaumont in front of the stumps for 62. Jones’ fightback ended in a run-out when a bit of hesitation cost her.

Sophia Dunkley and Brunt stitched a solid partnership of 34 runs to help take England past the 200-run mark before Kapp struck twice in the same over to remove the two set batters. She completed her five-for in the next over with the scalp of Kate Cross.

England managed to bat out the 50 overs, getting to 235-9.