All-rounder Marizanne Kapp shines as Proteas Women cruise past Pakistan at World Cup

Proteas Women’s senior player Marizanne Kapp delivered a stellar all-round performance to guide South Africa to their fifth consecutive win at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, beating Pakistan by 150 runs (DLS method) on Tuesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Kapp produced an outstanding new-ball spell in the rain-affected clash, claiming three wickets in her five-over burst to set South Africa up for another commanding victory in the ongoing tournament.

The 35-year-old finished with figures of 3/20, while right-arm off-spinner Nondumiso Shangase and seamer Ayabonga Khaka chipped in with figures of 2/19 and 1/14 respectively, helping South Africa record five consecutive World Cup wins for the first time in their history.

The result keeps the Proteas second on the table, behind only Australia — the side they are set to face in their seventh and final round-robin fixture of the tournament on Saturday.

With a semi-final spot already secured, South Africa’s top six batters were tasked with finding form and momentum ahead of the knockout stage, having been rescued on several occasions earlier in the campaign by lower-order pair of Nadine de Klerk and Chloé Tryon.

This time, the top order delivered emphatically, as Laura Wolvaardt, Kapp, and Sune Luus all registered half-centuries.

Before her match-winning bowling display, Kapp powered to her second consecutive fifty of the tournament, finishing unbeaten on 68 off 43 deliveries, her knock featuring six fours and three sixes.

She shared a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Wolvaardt, helping South Africa establish a strong platform before combining again with the in-form De Klerk (41 off 16) for another half-century stand. The pair’s late fireworks propelled South Africa to 312/9 in 40 overs in the rain-shortened encounter.

Earlier in the innings, Wolvaardt had once again led from the front, scoring her third half-century of the tournament. The much-anticipated tenth ODI century eluded the 26-year-old as she fell ten runs short — stumped by wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz for 90.

Throughout her innings, Wolvaardt was characteristically proactive against spin, repeatedly dancing down the wicket to drive the ball past the infield. But her aggressive approach finally proved costly in the 31st over when she misread the turn from left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, allowing Nawaz to complete an easy stumping.

Earlier, Wolvaardt and Luus (61 off 59) had built an impressive 118-run stand for the second wicket, easing the pressure on the middle order and setting the stage for the late assault.

South Africa’s 312/9 proved far too much for Pakistan in a contest that again underlined the Proteas’ growing confidence and balance heading into the semi-finals.

Full Scorecard 
South Africa: 312/9 (Laura Wolvaardt 90, Marizanne Kapp 68 not out; Sadia Iqbal 3/63)

Pakistan: 83/7 (Sidra Nawaz 22; Marizanne Kapp 3/20, Nondumiso Shangase 2/19)

South Africa won by 150 runs (DLS)