Marizanne Kapp’s devastating spell of new-ball bowling gave the Proteas Women the start they needed to skittle West Indies for 48 on Sunday.
Kapp provided great support to Shabnim Ismail, who took two early wickets. She kept it tight in her first three overs, conceding only three runs and bowling a maiden.
It was in her fourth over that the No 1 bowler in the world reaped the rewards for the pressure she had created. Off the first ball of her over she took a return catch to dismiss Reniece Boyce for four.
Kapp’s very next delivery sent Kyshona Knight’s stumps cartwheeling out of the ground. The hat-trick ball was an away-swinger which was left alone by the batter. This was a slight reprieve for the Windies before Kapp made it three in four balls when she shattered Deandra Dottin’s stumps, doing the same for the Windies’ chances of posting a decent total.
Kapp then returned to the attack in the 23rd over to put the finishing touches on a fantastic display of fast bowling. She bowled Afy Fletcher for a duck and in the process completed her career-best figures of 4-14.
Watch Marizanne Kapp’s post-match interview:
Kapp’s demolition of the top-order was backed up by a scintillating performance by captain Dane van Niekerk. Van Niekerk brought herself on to bowl in order to drive home the Proteas advantage.
She did exactly that when she took the wicket of Merissa Aguilleira. This was the beginning of one of the finest bowling spells in South Africa’s ODI cricket history.
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Van Niekerk’s mesmerising spell of 3.2 overs, three maidens 4-0 was record-breaking on three levels. Van Niekerk became the first bowler in either men’s or women’s international cricket to take four wickets without conceding a run. The Proteas skipper also returned the best figures by a captain in Women’s World Cup history.
Furthermore, the respective match figures of Kapp and Van Niekerk also represent the two best bowling performances by South Africans in Women’s World Cup history.
Watch Dane van Niekerk’s post-match interview:
Photo: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images
