Eastern Province all-rounder Marizanne Kapp made an immediate impact in a losing cause in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.
One of two South Africans in the league, she top-scored with 21 off 28 balls as the Sydney Sixers crashed to 101 all out against Sydney Thunder.
Then she played her part with the ball, too, taking 1-7 off her three overs, but the Thunder cruised home by nine wickets.
Kapp is joined by her Eastern Province teammate Dane van Niekerk in the Australian T20 jamboree; with Van Niekerk snapped up by the Melbourne Renegades
The competition has a frenetic schedule which will see 59 matches being played in 51 days, running parallel with the men’s Big Bash League
‘Obviously, in the women’s game it’s a very big achievement, because South Africa are not one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket,’ Kapp said. ‘For us, being chosen to represent South Africa there is a big honour and we are really looking forward to it.’
It will give the two valuable experience ahead of the ODI and T20 series against the England women in the new year.
Nine players from the England Women’s Performance Squad (EWPS) will be in action in the league, including Charlotte Edwards and Katherine Brunt (Perth Scorchers), Heather Knight who was named as captain of Hobart Hurricanes, Sarah Taylor (Adelaide Strikers) and Danielle Wyatt (Melbourne Renegades).
Van Niekerk, 22, captained the SA U19 team at the age of 16. She has since played 50 ODIs and 47 T20s for the Proteas.
She has a highest score of 90 not out in T20 internationals and a total of 790 runs at a strike rate of 81.61 runs per 100 balls. Her best bowling figures are 4/17.
The 25-year-old Kapp also has an impressive international career, having played 46 ODIs and 40 T20s. Her strike rate in the shortest form of the game is 94.39.
