During the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp became the first and only married couple to bat together in ICC tournament. The South African Women cricketers Van Niekerk and Kapp tied the knot in July earlier this year and became the second women's cricket pair to get married after New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu.
Playing against Sri Lanka at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, in a rain-hit match, the pair shared 67-run stand for the third wicket. Chasing a target of 100 runs from 20 overs, South Africa Women found themselves in trouble after losing both the openers inside first two overs. ICC Women’s T20I World Cup 2018 Points Table & Team Standings
Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt were dismissed cheaply and then the pair of Van Niekerk and Kapp did the repair work. The duo after the match-winning half-century stand was separated in 14th over when Kapp was trapped in front of the wickets with South Africa’s score reading 73. While Kapp scored 38 off 44 balls, which included four fours and a six, Van Niekerk, who is also South Africa’s captain, finished unbeaten on 33 off 45 balls. The latter managed to pick only two boundaries.
Watch: Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp bat together
Apart from the contribution with the bat, the all-rounder pair chipped in with a wicket each as well. It was pacer Shabnim Ismail who walked away with the Player of the Match award as she escaped three wickets from her quota of ten overs besides giving away just ten runs. 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Schedule & Time Table Available for Download in PDF Format.
Meanwhile, this was South Africa’s first win from as many matches. For Sri Lanka, it was the first defeat from two matches after their first game against England was washed out due to rain. South Africa will next face England at the same venue on November 17 as per Indian Standard Time (IST).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2018 08:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).