Image courtesy: ICC/twitter
Marizanne Kapp’s remarkable performance, which came after a spectacular South African effort, was at the fore once more as South Africa’s winning streak in the Women’s World Cup continued. South Africa made hard work of what should have been a straightforward chase, squeezing home by two wickets to win the tournament for the fourth time in a row.
The last over was given to Mackay to defend. Kapp came out on the first ball, grabbed the ball on the full, and slog swept it for four. She hit a single to long-on off the second and then met Khaka in the middle of the pitch for an extended talk. With the score tied, Khaka moved on the back foot to punch Mackay to mid-off for a fast scramble to seal the victory as the locker room erupted in jubilation.
Devine came seven runs short of her second century in this World Cup, but she placed New Zealand in a good position to chase a massive total. She and Amelia had an 81-run second-wicket partnership and an 80-run fourth-wicket stand, but New Zealand couldn’t pull away from South Africa’s quicks. Ismail struck at the top and bottom of the innings, Khaka concluded with three wickets despite two dropped catches, and Kapp claimed two wickets in two balls at the death to round up a strong display from the quicks.
It was also their 13th chasing victory in 15 matches (with one no-result and one tie), as well as their first victory against New Zealand in World Cups, bringing them equal on points with Australia at the top. South Africa is just one win away from sealing a semi-final berth, while hosts New Zealand is in a vulnerable situation and faces losing out on the knockout stages.
🚨 RESULT | #MomentumProteas WIN BY 2 WICKETS
🇿🇦 Another tense encounter comes to an end with the #MomentumProteas re-writing the history books as they secure their first-ever victory over New Zealand at a World Cup
📷 ICC/Getty#NZvSA #CWC22 #BePartOfTheForce #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/2gx7YeEcRQ
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) March 17, 2022
