Kapp's 81 Powers South Africa Past India at T20 World
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- Marizanne Kapp smashed an unbeaten 81 off 45 balls (seven fours, four sixes) and took 2-27 with the ball as South Africa chased 159 to beat India by six wickets with five balls remaining in their Women's T20 World Cup Group 1 match in Manchester.
- India posted 158-7 from 20 overs, with opener Shafali Verma's 15-ball 31 the top score and leg-spinner Sree Charani (3-24) the only bowler to make sustained inroads, though her two wickets in three balls came too late to prevent the chase.
- South Africa joined India on four points in Group 1, two behind leaders Australia, and face Bangladesh and the Netherlands in their remaining group fixtures.
- India's showdown with Australia at Lord's on 28 June is now likely decisive for the group, per the report, after the loss tightened the semi-final race.
- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played her record 200th T20 international for India, opting to bat first but watching both openers fall by the end of the powerplay at 59-2.
- South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt called Kapp "probably the biggest big-match player I've ever seen," noting the all-rounder had said she "didn't feel great" before the match.
Why it matters: South Africa kept their semi-final hopes alive after a 65-run opening loss to Australia, and the Group 1 race now hinges on India's June 28 clash with Australia at Lord's — a fixture that effectively becomes a quarter-final for the two pre-tournament favourites. Kapp's all-round match-winner performance reinforces her status as the Proteas' big-game X-factor with knockout cricket looming.
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