'Not Luck or Coincidence, It’s God' - How Did Marizanne Kapp Thank the Almighty After Her Record-Breaking Spell in the WC Semifinal?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Marizanne Kapp had a record-breaking performance, taking five wickets.
- South Africa reached their first Women’s World Cup final.
- Laura Wolvaardt scored a brilliant century, leading the team.
- Kapp surpassed Jhulan Goswami as the all-time leading wicket-taker.
- The match showcased the growth of women's cricket.
New Delhi, Oct 30 (NationPress) South Africa's all-rounder Marizanne Kapp expressed heartfelt thanks to the Almighty following her exceptional performance in the Women’s World Cup semi-final against England on Wednesday. This remarkable victory marked the Proteas' first-ever journey to the final in the tournament's history, showcasing an outstanding all-round display against the three-time champions.
Kapp delivered a record-setting performance, claiming a five-wicket haul and dismissing formidable English batters including Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, and Charlie Dean. With this achievement, she surpassed former Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, amassing a total of 44 wickets.
Goswami, who retired after the 2022 edition, concluded her ODI career with 43 wickets.
In a social media post, Kapp shared a picture with a quote stating, "It’s not luck or coincidence, it’s God."
In the match, skipper Laura Wolvaardt spearheaded South Africa’s innings with a phenomenal century, avenging a previous group stage loss to England where they were all out for a mere 69 runs. Wolvaardt amassed 169 runs off 143 balls, striking 20 fours and 6 sixes, leading the team to a total of 319/7 in their 50 overs.
Post-match, Wolvaardt reflected on fulfilling her childhood dream of scoring a century in a World Cup, stating, "It still feels a bit unreal. This is something you dream about as a kid, getting a century in a World Cup. It is a very special day and I am so glad we won in the end."
England's chase faltered as Kapp dismissed both Jones and Knight in the first over, leaving them reeling at nought for two. The situation worsened to one for three when Tammy Beaumont edged a delivery from Ayabonga Khaka behind.
While captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) showed some resistance, Kapp returned to claim three more wickets, ultimately restricting England to 194 all out.