Wolvaardt’s Class and Kapp’s Power Propel South Africa to 312 in Rain-Hit World Cup Clash Against Pakistan
Colombo, October 21: South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt led by example with a brilliant 90, while Marizanne Kapp provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 68 as South Africa posted a mammoth 312 for 9 in a rain-interrupted 40-over Women’s World Cup encounter against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
The rain-affected contest, reduced from 50 to 40 overs per side, saw South Africa’s batting line-up display remarkable composure and aggression to set a daunting DLS-adjusted target of 306 for Pakistan, who now face a massive task to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Rain Delays and a Rocky Start
After Pakistan captain Nida Dar won the toss and chose to bowl first, South Africa faced early trouble when Fatima Sana removed Tazmin Brits for a duck in the second over. Before momentum could build, play was halted by heavy rain, forcing a long suspension that began at 3:12 PM and only resumed at 5:30 PM after two separate delays.
When play resumed, the overs were cut to 40 per side, but that didn’t deter South Africa’s top order from mounting a strong response.
Wolvaardt and Luus Rebuild with Style
Once conditions settled, skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus counterattacked with class and confidence. The pair combined for a brilliant 118-run stand for the second wicket, mixing elegant drives with sharp rotation of strike.
Luus was fluent throughout her 61 off 59 balls before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership with a well-flighted delivery that forced a mistimed shot. Despite the breakthrough, Wolvaardt continued to dominate, punishing Pakistan’s bowlers with precise footwork and timing.
Her 90 off 82 balls was a captain’s innings — composed yet commanding. She fell just short of a century, caught trying to clear mid-off after misjudging Sandhu’s flight. The left-arm spinner then struck again in the same over, trapping Karabo Meso for a duck, turning the momentum briefly in Pakistan’s favor.
Late Assault from Kapp and de Klerk
Chloe Tryon’s quickfire 21 off 16 balls kept the scoreboard ticking, but her dismissal — stumped smartly by Sidra Nawaz — gave Pakistan renewed hope. That optimism didn’t last long.
When Marizanne Kapp joined Nadine de Klerk at the crease, the pair launched a devastating counterattack. Their 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket came at breathtaking pace, completely dismantling Pakistan’s death bowling.
De Klerk was especially ruthless, hammering 41 off just 16 balls, including three boundaries and four massive sixes. Kapp, showing her trademark calm under pressure, anchored the innings superbly, finishing unbeaten on 68 off 43 balls. Together, they powered South Africa past the 300-run mark — a rare feat in a 40-over game.
Pakistan’s Bowlers Struggle to Contain the Onslaught
For Pakistan, the bowling figures told a mixed story. Nashra Sandhu (3/45) and Sadia Iqbal (3/63) were the pick of the attack, maintaining discipline amid relentless hitting. Fatima Sana took one wicket early on, while two dismissals came through runouts.
However, Pakistan’s fielding once again let them down — several dropped catches and misfields allowed South Africa’s batters to accelerate freely.
“We lost our grip after the rain break,” admitted a Pakistan team source. “Our bowlers did well in patches, but we leaked too many runs in the final overs.”
A Commanding Total and a Steep Chase Ahead
South Africa’s total of 312/9 in 40 overs now stands as one of the highest scores in rain-reduced World Cup contests. The DLS target of 306 gives Pakistan an uphill battle on a damp pitch that has begun to slow down.
As the players took to the field for the chase, the challenge was clear — Pakistan would need an extraordinary batting display to chase down the target and remain in the tournament race.
Brief Scores
South Africa 312/9 in 40 overs:
Laura Wolvaardt 90 (82), Marizanne Kapp 68* (43), Sune Luus 61 (59), Nadine de Klerk 41 (16)
Bowling: Nashra Sandhu 3/45, Sadia Iqbal 3/63, Fatima Sana 1/34
Target for Pakistan (DLS): 306 runs in 40 overs
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
South Africa’s performance showcased the perfect blend of leadership and power. Wolvaardt’s tactical brilliance and Kapp’s fearless strokeplay under pressure underscored the team’s intent to dominate the tournament.
As Pakistan begin their chase, the equation looks daunting, but cricket has a history of surprises. With rain still looming and the pitch slowing, the stage is set for a tense finish in Colombo.