Marizanne Kapp produced one of the most memorable all-round performances in South African cricket history, inspiring her side to a commanding 125-run victory over England in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. With figures of 5 for 20, Kapp ripped through England’s batting lineup, propelling South Africa into their first-ever ODI World Cup final.
“It’s my second fifer, and the second one against England in a World Cup,” Kapp smiled after the game. “But I’m just happy to do that in a World Cup semi-final.”
Despite the dominant margin, Kapp insisted the match was far from easy. “It wasn’t easy, not easy at all,” she said. “There was calmness in the group this morning. For some reason, we just felt like whatever will happen, will happen. Once we lost the toss, I was actually happy that we batted first, looking at the stats of this ground, and how it’s been going this World Cup.”
South Africa’s batting effort was built around Laura Wolvaardt’s fluent century and a strong finishing surge from Kapp herself. “I think the turning point of the game was contribution with the bat and ball,” Kapp said. “Wolfy (Laura Wolvaardt) finished for us brilliantly at the back end to get us to that total. I felt like if we had a good start, it was always going to be a mountain of runs to chase. Personally, I was a bit more relaxed when I got the England captain out.”
The semifinal triumph marks South Africa’s third consecutive appearance in a World Cup final across formats, a remarkable feat for a side that had long been chasing their elusive breakthrough moment. “We’ve just been so blessed to have performed the way we have over the last couple of years,” said Kapp.
“Today, I have to give thanks to Jesus Christ who carried us through that game. I’m very proud of the girls and the way we’ve been performing. Not a lot of people gave us a chance or believed in us, the job is still not done, but we’ll enjoy this tonight.”
There were concerns about Tazmin Brits’ shoulder, but Kapp quickly assured the media that the opener was fine: “She’s okay, just a bit sore. But she’s a tough character, so she’ll be fine.”
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of the past 24 hours, Kapp revealed how the team found calmness after a difficult lead-up. “Honestly, the day before yesterday, was optional training, so I didn’t go to training, probably before I had one of the worst net sessions of my career,” she admitted. “I ended that session in tears. But that’s cricket, just believe, in my skill, you trust, and leave it all to God. Our coach told us to put a price on our wickets and stay relaxed. Yesterday’s meeting was different- calm, focused and I think that changed everything.”
She also reflected on the mood in the camp ahead of the game.
“This afternoon when we arrived here, everyone looked so relaxed, so it was completely different. We didn’t speak about the game too much, we obviously knew what we had to do and luckily for us, it went our way today.”
Kapp also spoke about the team’s bond, often described as more like a family than a squad. “Nothing is more important than family,” she said. “Even this morning, our team doctor came to my room, prayed for me, and told me a story that reminded me cricket isn’t everything. Maybe I’m on this path for another reason. Having these girls, the management, and family, it’s all special. No matter what the outcome, you can always go back to them.”
As for the venue and the atmosphere, Kapp admitted she was initially nervous but grew into the occasion. “I was nervous coming in,” she said. “It probably wasn’t a wicket suited to our natural style with bat and ball, but I feel like we played one of our best World Cup matches today.”
And when asked who she would like to face in the final, Kapp’s answer came with a grin: “We’ve been saying for a couple of years now, I would love to play India in a final, especially when it’s in India. Even though the crowd is against me, it feels like they’re shouting for me. I love the crowds.”
South Africa now awaits the winner of the second semifinal, knowing they’ve already created history. But for Marizanne Kapp and her teammates, the dream isn’t complete just yet.
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