Van Niekerk: Kapp class helped Oval Invincibles win Women’s Hundred final
Oval Invincibles skipper Dane Van Niekerk hailed her “incredible” wife and team-mate Marizanne Kapp for her match-winning performance in the inaugural Women’s Hundred final.
Kapp, who starred in last Friday’s eliminator victory over Birmingham Phoenix, took centre stage again at Lord’s the following day, striking 26 off 14 balls before taking 4-9 with the ball in her side’s dominant 48-run win over Southern Brave.
“Marizanne has been incredible,” said Van Niekerk. “It just shows you the quality player she is. She is the hardest working person I know, so nobody deserves it more.”
Kapp and Van Niekerk were regulars for Surrey Stars in the Kia Super League, the competition The Hundred has now replaced. Hence why Jonathan Batty, the Women’s Invincibles head coach and former Surrey wicketkeeper, saw it as vital to secure the services of the South African internationals for The Hundred.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some outstanding leaders over the years, and Dane is right up there with the very best of them,” posted Batty on social media.
“She is an absolute warrior, and led from the front every time her team needed her.”
Van Niekerk added: “Shabnim [Ismail] thought Kapps was going to enjoy bowling here. They just wanted to get to Lord’s. They knew the wicket would do the job for them if they just put it in the right areas.
“We started off incredibly well and it just snowballed. I always felt if we got runs on the board in a final the pressure would be on the batters to go and get them and everything worked out for us.
“I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s incredible to win a Lord’s final and a special moment. One day when I retire I can look back and say I won at Lord’s.
“The whole competition was incredible. Congrats to the ECB for creating it. I had my doubts, but I’m definitely in favour of The Hundred, not just because we won it.
“If we had gone out after the group stages I would still be a fan. People came out in droves. I haven’t seen so many people come out for a domestic Women’s tournament in my life.
“It just spurs you on and takes you to places you probably don’t think you can go. It’s an incredible feeling and something I’ll never forget.”
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