As the sun prepares to rise over the historic Three Ws Oval in Bridgetown on June 14, the South African women’s cricket team will find themselves not just in search of a crucial win to keep the ODI series alive against the West Indies but also rallying around a landmark occasion — Marizanne Kapp’s 150th ODI appearance.
This fixture, the second of a three-match series, comes at a pivotal time. South Africa are 0-1 down after a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) adjusted loss in the series opener, and momentum is clearly with the hosts. But amidst the growing tension of the must-win clash, the spotlight inevitably shifts to one of South Africa’s greatest — the ever-dependable Kapp, who stands on the cusp of history.
Kapp, 35, will become only the second South African woman to play 150 ODIs, joining the elite company of Mignon du Preez. In doing so, she also moves just six matches shy of surpassing du Preez’s record for most ODI appearances for the country — a fitting narrative twist in a long and illustrious career that began back in 2009 against Australia.
As she faced the media ahead of the clash, Kapp was quick to reflect on South Africa’s performance in the series opener, where they posted 232 after electing to bat — a total that ultimately proved insufficient on a typically slow Caribbean pitch.
On the missed opportunity in the first ODI, Kapp pointed out the team’s inability to build on early momentum.
“We started off okay, the first 10 overs in the powerplay. If you look at the scorecard, we had a lot of players who scored 20s and 30s, but no one scored big. In these conditions, with this bowling attack, you need an in-batter, and we just needed one top-order batter to go through. We had a lot of starts, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
Her critique extended to the bowling department, which struggled to contain the West Indies, especially in the powerplay, and allowed early momentum to slip.
Discussing the bowling performance, Kapp acknowledged room for improvement while recognizing the root of the challenge lay in a below-par total.
“I felt like the runs were probably 30 to 40 short because it’s always going to be difficult for our bowlers to defend that type of total on these wickets. Even if you look at the previous tour, we know we’ve not been at our best with the ball. We’ve been bowling a bit on both sides of the wicket, but you can always improve. We know bowling has probably been a little bit of a concern, but in saying that, the runs weren’t enough as well.”
Despite recent struggles — with just one win in their last four matches during the Sri Lanka tri-series and a worrying stretch of three wins from their last 13 ODIs — South Africa will draw confidence from the presence of a seasoned campaigner like Kapp. Her all-round contributions across formats have often been the backbone of the team’s successes.
Across 149 ODIs, Kapp has amassed 3116 runs, including a top score of 114, and bagged 164 wickets, with best figures of 5 for 45. But beyond the numbers, it’s her longevity and resilience that truly define her legacy.
Reflecting on the journey, Kapp opened up about how her path in cricket started almost unknowingly, in a time when women’s cricket had little spotlight. “I’m extremely proud. Looking back, not only on my career but where women’s cricket started and when I started playing for South Africa, I didn’t even know there was international women’s cricket.”
“When I made my debut, I just thought, I’ll give this a go, even though I’ve always loved cricket. I never thought women’s cricket would end up here, and I would still be playing, 15 – 16 years later. It’s definitely a very proud moment, and hopefully I’ve got a few more games in me.”
South Africa will need all of Kapp’s expertise and fire if they are to keep the series alive. A win in Barbados not only levels the contest but sets the tone ahead of a packed calendar, which includes a home ODI series against Pakistan — vital preparation for the looming World Cup in India.
For a player who has never shied away from a challenge, the hunger remains unmistakable. When asked about her enduring passion for the game, Kapp’s response was unwavering.
“Definitely. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t have that hunger. I can’t do anything half and half. It’s either I go for it or I don’t do it at all. I’m proud of my career. I’m proud of what we have achieved as a South African cricket team. So, I definitely still have that hunger, still want to perform at the highest level and hopefully bring home a World Cup.”
As Kapp laces up for her milestone match under the Caribbean skies, her story becomes more than just numbers and records. It becomes a symbol of transformation — of South African women’s cricket, of resilience, of leadership, and above all, of a never-dying love for the game. And perhaps, with Kapp leading the charge, South Africa might yet turn the tide.
(Quotes sourced from SuperSport)
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