South Africa rode on all-round performance by Marizanne Kapp to pulverise Pakistan by 126 run in their last Group B match and clinch a berth in the Super Six round of the Women’s World Cup at Barabati Stadium here on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Kapp slammed her maiden ODI hundred to enable South Africa, who elected to bat first, muster a competitive 207 for five and then scalped 3 for 18, also her career-best ODI bowling performance, to walk away with the Player of the Match award.
Putting up their worst batting performance in the ongoing tournament, Pakistani women were skittled out for 81 to finish at the bottom of the group table. Only four batsmen could reach double figures.
However, Pakistan, who lost all three of their group league matches, started off on an encouraging note, reducing South Africa to nine for two and again to 79 for five with Qanita Jalil and Asmavia Iqbal picking up two wickets apiece.
But Kapp’s unconquered 102 (150 balls, 11x4) and her unbeaten 128-run partnership for the sixth-wicket with Dane van Niekerk turned the game in favour of South Africa. Niekerk too remained unbeaten, hitting her maiden ODI half-century (55 off 77b, 6x4, 1x6) in the process.
Aussies down NZ
Tangi (Cuttack): Australia lived upto their reputation as five-time champions with a seven-wicket win over last edition’s runners-up New Zealand in their last Women’s World Cup Group-B league match here. Though both the sides had already entered the Super Six, the win over New Zealand put Australia at the top of the group table with six points, while the Kiwis finished second with four points.