Kapp just loves The Hundred


No player loves The Hundred more than Marizanne Kapp. A winner with the Oval Invincibles in 2021 and 2022, she was once again sprinkling her magic on the tournament on Wednesday with bat and ball as she helped guide the South London franchise to victory by five wickets with 6 balls to spare at Trent Bridge. The win secured her team’s passage to the eliminator on Saturday.

Kapp stroked her way to 26 off 24 balls sharing a crucial 51 run partnership with young Paige Scholfield, who struck a powerful 26 off the identical number of deliveries. The pair came together with the visitors wobbling at 33/3 in pursuit of the Trent Rockets miserable tally of 91/8 off their hundred balls.

A superb ball by Australian leg spinner Alana King to bowl out England International Alice Capsey had given the Rockets a slight chance of winning against the odds, but the Invincibles soon grabbed back the initiative through Kapp and Scholfield.

Talking after the game Sophia Smale reiterated the value of the South African all-rounder to the team

“You can always rely on Kappie with the bat and the ball.  I never get stressed when she is batting because she is so in control. “Paige and Kappie bat really well together and I just thought if they get a good partnership, we will be fine” said Smale

Earlier after inserting the Rockets on a cloudy Nottingham afternoon the Invincibles soon took command of this effective quarter final tie. Thirteen balls into the game and the home side were tottering at 3/3. Kapp dismissed Grace Scrivens (0) and Bryony Smith (1) while fellow opening bowler Rachel Slater bowled the Rockets captain and England star Nat Sciver Brunt for a duck.

Marizanne Kapp finished with the amazing bowling figures of 3/8 off her 20 balls. She was well supported by Slater and slow left arm spinner Sophia Smale with 2/15 and 2/17 respectively.

Another significant feature from the outset was the sharpness of the visitors in the field which was highlighted by a stunning one-handed catch by Maddy Villiers at mid wicket to dismiss opener Bryony Smith.  Take a look yourself.  Surely this is the catch of the tournament.

The only bright spot in the Rockets batting was from another Australian spinner Ash Gardner, who played an imperious innings full of classical front foot shots.

However, once Gardner was caught and bowled by Villiers for 43 off 26 balls (5 4’s and 2 6’s) the innings lacked any impetus and a total of 91/8, albeit on a slow pitch never looked enough to trouble the dual tournament winners.

The invincible can now look forward to the eliminator at their home ground, the Kia Oval on Saturday against local rivals the London Spirit. In this year’s two matches, the match at Lord’s ended in a 113 run each tie, while the Invincibles hammered the Spirit by 8 wickets at the Kia Oval.  Player of the match in the opening encounter, yes, you’ve guessed it Marizanne Kapp with 4/11 and 47 not out.

Looking ahead to the eliminator Smale said “I’m excited, it’s a big game, I love big games, and I love the big moments. To do it at the Oval is very special. I’m ready for it.”

The winners will be up against the Welsh Fire, who topped the group stage on run rate ahead of the South London side after both outfits had finished on 11 points.

With a player like Marizanne Kapp in your side who will be surprised if the Oval Invincibles don’t repeat their triumphs of 2021 and 2022.  In 2021 Kapp scored 25 and took a match winning haul of 4/9 while the following year it was 1/19 and 37 not out as she steered her side home to victory.

Yes, Marizanne Kapp loves The Hundred and we might find out again over the weekend.

Stephen Wallis     

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