South African all-rounder Marijane Kaup laughed while choosing her second consecutive match player award, saying she was tired of close matches and had to stop.
In the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Kapp followed a mini-fall followed by another, scoring an unbeaten 34 to give South Africa a two-wicket win and maintain their clean slate in the tournament.
“These (closer) games have to stop now; I’m tired Again a team effort, not our best as our perfect game is near. To be honest, we bowled a little better against England, but got carried away today.”
Chasing 229, South Africa were cruising at 161/2 in 36 overs, with Laura Wolvaardt (67) and Sune Luss (51) still going strong in an 88-run stand. But the pair and Mignon du Preez fell in quick succession, leaving Kapp for another chase after doing the same against England.
Kapp smashed an unbeaten 34 off 35 balls, including four fours in the 47th over back-to-back, and helped her to score more runs despite losing partners in Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty and Shabnam Ismail. Kept calm.
After hitting Frankie McKay for a boundary and taking a single through mid-wicket, Ayabonga Khaka took a tight single at mid-off to set off a sensational chase with three balls to spare. Kapp still feels that South Africa’s batting department could do well in the tournament.
“Our batsmen are struggling and we want to come out strong. I am supporting them to come well. I was nervous (with Lus at bat), I’m not going to lie. He batted again today but you can’t get by comfortably and luckily because the game can change quickly, but we won again today.”
Kapp said if more players could contribute substantially, South Africa could do better in the World Cup. “Didn’t bowl very well today, to be honest, just a few more guys to take the stress off and we’ll be good.”
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