Image: Cricket in numbers highlights Fans praise the match winning performance of Marizanne Kapp against a strong Indian side / © ESPNcricinfo
In the 18th Group 1 match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Old Trafford, Manchester, South Africa Women pulled off a strong 6-wicket win over India Women, chasing down 159 with 5 balls left. India elected to bat first and made 158/7 in their 20 overs. Shafali Verma gave the innings early momentum with a quick 31 off 15 balls, while Smriti Mandhana added 17. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 24 in her 200th T20I appearance, and Deepti Sharma chipped in with 29.
Although India had several batters get starts, none could convert them into a big score. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail led the South African bowling effort with 2 wickets each. South Africa did not have the best of starts and were reduced to 25/2 inside 6 overs. Laura Wolvaardt made 20 before falling, but Tazmin Brits helped rebuild the innings with a patient 40 from 36 balls. The game then swung firmly in South Africa’s favour thanks to a brilliant innings from Marizanne Kapp. The experienced all-rounder attacked the Indian bowlers from the outset and remained unbeaten on 81 from only 45 deliveries, striking 7 fours and 4 sixes.
Shree Charani impressed for India with figures of 3/24 and kept her side in the contest, but Kapp’s knock proved too strong. Chloe Tryon added a quick unbeaten 10 off 4 balls as South Africa crossed the target at 161/4 in 19.1 overs. Kapp’s match-winning all-round display of 81 not out and 2/27 earned her the Player of the Match award and helped South Africa secure 2 valuable points.