South Africa Women beat India Women by 6 wickets with five balls remaining in Match 18 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with Marizanne Kapp producing the standout performance in a superb chase. Kapp, named Player of the Match, led the pursuit with 81 as South Africa reached 161/4 after India Women posted 158/7.
The result continued South Africa Women’s strong start to the tournament and handed them another important win after their earlier two-wicket result in Match 11. India Women, who had already recorded victories in Match 6 and Match 10, were unable to add a third win here as South Africa came away with the points in a tight contest.
India’s 158/7 was built around useful contributions rather than one dominant innings. Shafali Verma top-scored with 31, Deepti Sharma added 29, and Harmanpreet Kaur made 24, but South Africa’s bowlers kept chipping away and prevented the innings from breaking open in the closing overs.
Marizanne Kapp set the tone with the ball as well, returning 1/21 from 3 overs, while Shabnim Ismail claimed 2/28 in her full four-over spell. Ayabonga Khaka was especially economical with 1/17 from 3 overs, Nadine de Klerk finished with 1/16 from 2 overs, and Nonkululeko Mlaba added 1/33 from 4. Those figures ensured India were held to a target that remained within reach on a good chasing surface.
The chase belonged to Kapp. Her 81 was the innings that separated the sides, and she found support from Tazmin Brits, who made 40, and Laura Wolvaardt, who contributed 20. South Africa’s top order gave the pursuit shape, and once Kapp settled in, the required rate stayed under control for long periods.
India did create pressure in patches. Shree Charani stood out with 3 wickets, the best figures of the innings for India, while Shafali Verma picked up 1 wicket. But South Africa managed the key passages better, especially through the middle and late overs, and finished the chase at 161/4 in 19.1 overs.
The match-turning moment was Kapp’s command of the chase after India had set a competitive total. Rather than allowing India to dictate with wickets in hand, she kept South Africa moving and made sure the asking rate never ran away. Her all-round contribution, backed by a disciplined bowling display from Ismail, Khaka and de Klerk, proved decisive.
In the wider tournament picture, this was Match 18 of 33 and it keeps the group-stage race moving into a busy next phase. Earlier on Sunday, West Indies Women beat Ireland Women by 5 wickets in Match 17, while the competition had already seen strong starts from Australia Women and England Women, who have both collected multiple wins. There is still plenty to come in the league stage, including New Zealand Women vs Scotland Women and Ireland Women vs Sri Lanka Women on June 23, before India Women return against Bangladesh Women on June 25 and South Africa Women face Netherlands Women later that day.
Key performers
- Marizanne Kapp – 81 and 1/21 from 3 overs
- Tazmin Brits – 40 in the chase
- Shafali Verma – 31 and 1 wicket
- Shree Charani – 3 wickets for India Women
- Shabnim Ismail – 2/28 from 4 overs
- Ayabonga Khaka – 1/17 from 3 overs
NerdSports Stat: India Women had three batters between 24 and 31 but no fifty, while South Africa Women had one batter alone outscore India’s three highest individual contributions combined pace-for-pace in the chase’s defining phases through Marizanne Kapp’s 81.
Frequently Asked Questions
South Africa Women won the match by 6 wickets with 5 balls remaining.
Marizanne Kapp was named Player of the Match for her 81 in the chase and 1/21 from 3 overs.
This was Match 18 of 33 in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup league stage. The result extends the tournament schedule rather than deciding a series, with more group matches still to come for both teams.
Marizanne Kapp top-scored with 81 off the South Africa Women chase.
The next matches in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup are New Zealand Women vs Scotland Women and Ireland Women vs Sri Lanka Women on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
