Kapp does it again as South Africa trump New Zealand to make it four in four

A heroic performance by Marizanne Kapp, not for the first time at this World Cup either, made all the difference as South Africa extended their winning streak to four matches. Kapp scored 34* in 35 balls as South Africa made hard work of what should have been a simpler chase and snuck home by two wickets, handing New Zealand their third loss in five matches.

It was South Africa's 13th win chasing in 15 matches (with one no-result and one tie) since the start of 2020, and their first victory over New Zealand in World Cups, and had them drawing level on points with Australia at the top. The result left South Africa one win away from securing a semi-final spot, but New Zealand are in a precarious position and at risk of missing out on the knockouts.

Replying to New Zealand's 228, South Africa were cruising at 161 for 2 in the 36th over. Laura Wolvaardt had racked up her third successive half-century, after being put down on 33; Sune Luus was on her way to a second fifty, and Amelia Kerr, whose first seven overs cost 46 runs, was brought on to bowl.

Cue chaos.

South Africa lost three wickets for nine runs in 27 balls, including both Wolvaardt and Luus, to leave it to the lower order to finish the chase. South Africa needed 59 runs off 59 balls when Luus was dismissed. Kapp and Chloe Tryon, the same pair that got South Africa out of jail against England, came together to put on 28 runs off 30 balls, but Tryon couldn't see it through, as she stepped out and hit Frances Mackay to Amelia Kerr at deep midwicket at the start of the 46th over. South Africa needed 31 off 29 balls then.

When Trisha Chetty, who was with Kapp in the England game, arrived and swung big but got a leading edge for Mackay to collect a return catch, South Africa needed 18 off 17. And when Shabnim Ismail, who finished the England game with Chetty, was bowled by Sophie Devine in the penultimate over, it was 12 off ten.

Ayabonga Khaka, who was not needed to bat in the previous two matches, missed the first ball she faced, and top-edged an attempted hoick the second ball, but it fell safely between mid-off and mid-on to put Kapp back on strike. Kapp smashed Devine over mid-off for four and then pushed her to long-on to ensure she would face in the final over. South Africa needed six runs from six balls then.

Mackay was tasked with the final over. Off the first ball, Kapp slog-swept her for four. Off the second, she ran a single to long-on, and then met Khaka mid-pitch for a lengthy conversation. With scores level, Khaka went on the back foot to punch Mackay to mid-off for a quick scramble to complete the win as the dressing room erupted in joy.

Kapp sank to her haunches in relief. "I'm tired," she told the television interviewee afterwards. So were New Zealand, after they came back well, but not well enough.

In the end, New Zealand didn't have enough runs to play with after they were kept to 228 on a good Seddon Park pitch. South Africa's attack found swing early and then took pace off the ball to prompt a lower-order collapse. New Zealand lost six wickets for 30 runs in 46 balls, and failed to bat out their 50 overs.

Devine fell seven runs short of a second century at this World Cup and put New Zealand in a position to push for a big score. She shared in an 81-run stand for the second wicket with Amelia Kerr and 80 for the fourth wicket with Maddy Green, but New Zealand could not get away from South Africa's quicks. Ismail struck at the top and bottom of the innings, Khaka had two catches dropped but still finished with three wickets, while Kapp took two wickets in two balls at the death to cap off a dominant performance from the quicks.