Proteas Women Outclass Scotland as Kapp and Mlaba Steal the Show

DUBAI: Marizanne Kapp excelled with the bat, followed by Nonkululeko Mlaba’s brilliance with the ball, as the Proteas Women secured a commanding 80-run victory over Scotland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai on Wednesday afternoon.

Kapp smashed six fours during her 24-ball 43, while Tazmin Brits contributed a valuable 43 off 35 balls (5 fours, 1 six) to guide South Africa to the tournament’s highest score so far, 166/5. Mlaba then took charge with the ball, recording impressive figures of three for 12, helping to bowl out Scotland for 86 with 13 balls to spare.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Proteas openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Brits, got off to a flying start. They powered their way to a 50-run stand in just 33 balls, reaching the end of the powerplay at 60 without loss.

With South Africa in control, Scotland’s Katherine Fraser (1/15) made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing the in-form Wolvaardt for a quickfire 40 off 27 balls (5 fours, 1 six) in the eighth over before the Proteas advanced to 83/1 at the halfway mark of their innings.

Soon after the drinks break, Scotland picked up their second of the match, dismissing Anneke Bosch (11) off the bowling Darcey Carter (1/17). Despite taking her score within seven runs of her second half-century of the tournament, Brits was the third wicket to go off the bowling of Olivia Bell (1/34) to leave South Africa 119/3 in the 15th over.

Kapp then used her experience to hit boundaries at will, adding valuable runs to propel South Africa towards the 150-run mark. Kapp was eventually caught by Carter off the bowling of Kathryn Bryce (1/31) with the score on 147/4 and 13 balls left in the innings.

Despite losing Chloe Tryon (2) in the penultimate over, the Proteas Women finished their innings on 166/5, with Suné Luus remaining unbeaten on 18*.

In response, Scotland’s innings suffered an early collapse, with Tryon (2/22) claiming two crucial wickets, removing Sarah Bryce (5) and K. Bryce (7), either side of Ayabonga Khaka’s (1/8) dismissal of Saskia Horley (6), leaving Scotland at 34/3 after six overs.

Scotland’s situation worsened as Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk (2/15) joined the wicket-taking spree, bowling Alisa Lister (12) and Priyanaz Chatterji (4).

Mlaba struck again in her second over, bowling Darcey Carter (0), as Scotland found themselves in deep trouble at 50/6 after 10 overs, still needing 117 runs for victory.

Luus (1/9) was also introduced into the attack and claimed Lorna Jack-Brown (9) with a brilliant caught and bowled, before Annerie Dercksen (1/5) took South Africa’s eighth wicket, reducing Scotland to 67/8 in the 13th over.

Although the Scottish tail resisted for a few overs, Mlaba and De Klerk wrapped up the innings by dismissing Fraser (14) and Abtaha Maqsood (7), sealing a dominant victory for the Proteas Women.

Kapp was named Player of the Match for her aggressive batting, while Wolvaardt became the Proteas Women’s leading T20 International run-scorer with 1,906 runs in 69 innings. Wolvaardt also leads the tournament’s run charts with 141 runs, while Mlaba tops the wicket-taking list with eight wickets in three matches.

South Africa will complete their Group B fixtures with a match against Bangladesh on Saturday, 12 October, at the Dubai International Stadium, starting at 18h00 local time (16h00 SAST).

Proteas Women Squad – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (United Arab Emirates):

Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)

Traveling Reserve

Miané Smit* (Recon Tactical Free State)

* Uncapped

South Africa’s Fixtures – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (03 – 20 October) 

Sunday, 20 October @ 16h00 SAST: Final (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)