Marizanne Kapp's sensational performance leads Oval Invincibles to inaugural Hundred title

There were many who feared that the introduction of the Hundred would result in the dominance of batsmen over the game, expanding even further. Bowlers would be reduced to a secondary role, they argued. However, that is certainly not the case as evident from the inaugural women’s Hundred final at Lord’s which saw Marizanne Kapp impress one and all with her fantastic performance. Marizanne returned competition-best figures of 4 for 9 to help Oval Invincibles knock out Southern Brave for 73, having posted a target of 122 runs.

Marizanne Kapp delivers a sensational performance

The all-rounder ensured a brilliant start to the chase, dismissing Brave’s top three batswomen for ducks on the back of prodigious outswing down the slope in ideal bowling conditions. Marizanne first accounted for the dismissal of Danni Wyatt, followed by Sophia Dunkley and Gaby Lewis respectively. While Sophia was caught at second slip, Gaby top-edged a pull to short fine leg. The chase was nearly done and dusted with the scoreline at 2 for 3. Brave huffed and puffed to 21 for 6 at the halfway stage of the chase, as Shabnim Ismail dismissed Amanda-Jade Wellington, with 17-year-old Capsey striking with her first ball. Marizanne’s final set of five balls was pushed back for the death overs. She duly delivered, sealing the win with a leg-stump yorker which cleaned up Lauren Bell to spark emotional celebrations.

The all-rounder had earlier made her presence felt with the bat, smashing 26 runs from 14 deliveries in an innings comprising of four boundaries. Alice Capsey provided some valuable support, chipping in with 18 runs from 12 balls with three fours to her credit. The triumph assumes even more importance from the Invincibles’ viewpoint considering they were on the brink of defeat against Birmingham Phoenix in Friday’s eliminator. Tash Farrant led a spirited fightback, which certainly seems invaluable currently.

“The ball moved quite a bit”

“First of all I’d just like to thank Jesus Christ because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be standing here. I was tired but Shabby kept me going and the pitch suited my bowling. I said yesterday that I believed whoever won yesterday would win today and luckily it was us. Think it just shows what a brilliant team we have. Would love to bowl here again. The ball moved quite a bit and if I stuck to my strengths I’d get a few wickets today,” said Marizanne after being named the match hero.

Invincibles captain Dane van Niekerk congratulated Southern Brave, terming an opportunity to play at Lord’s as a childhood dream. She further hailed Marizanne as a big match player.

“I don’t have words at the moment. If you told me that would happen at the end of the day I would have taken it. First congrats to Southern Brave, they set the standard all tournament. It’s a childhood dream to play a final at Lord’s, to play any game at Lord’s, but to play a final and win it is what dreams are made of. [Kapp] is a big match player,” she stated.

“I told her last night that she always steps up on the big stage. She’s really tired but she pushed through and I’m really proud of her. I thought we were a bit short especially with Southern Brave’s batting but we backed our strength all tournament which has been our bowling,” concluded Dane van Niekerk.