Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits centuries guide Proteas Women to famous victory over Pakistan

Proteas Women’s senior batters Marizanne Kapp and Tazmin Brits guided the visitors to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, helping South Africa go 1–0 up in the three-match series.

The stage was perfectly set for the senior batters to step up to the plate, with Pakistan having set a decent target of 256 runs and the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup just weeks away.

The Proteas Women’s seniors needed to send a message — and Brits and Kapp sent a statement of note with Tuesday night's victory in Lahore. 

They were asked to bowl first by the home team's skipper, Fatima Sana, a tactic intentionally meant to expose the visitors to the scorching sun in the hopes they would tire both physically and mentally. 

However, Brits and Kapp displayed impressive mental fortitude on Tuesday.

Kapp had bowled seven overs in the sun, but batted as if she hadn’t, putting her impressive fitness levels on full display. 

The 35-year-old would go on to bring up her fourth ODI century, and her second in Pakistan — a knock that saw the right-handed batter smash 13 fours and two sixes.

At the opposite end, Brits was just as impressive, showing great patience up front while playing second fiddle to Sune Luus, who was hitting regular boundaries before being trapped LBW — bringing Kapp to the middle. 

Brits brought up her fifth ODI century, a composed knock that saw the opening batter strike nine fours, as the pair put on a record 216-run stand and guided South Africa to a famous victory in Lahore. 

With the ball, experienced fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka led from the front, taking the wicket of opening batter Zulfiqar in her first over to give the Proteas an early breakthrough.  

Bowling alongside Kapp with the new ball, the pair delivered three overs each under the scorching sun in Lahore before youngsters Annerie Dercksen and Nondumiso Shangase were introduced into the attack.

With the new bowlers brought on, Pakistan batters Muneeba Ali (76) and Shawaal Zulfiqar steadied the ship. They helped the hosts recover from the early blow with a 147-run partnership for the second wicket.

It would be Khaka (2/36) who eventually broke the stand, trapping Ali in front of the stumps to hand the visitors their second scalp. 

However, Zulfiqar went on to score an unbeaten century as the hosts posted a respectable 255/4.

Scorecard Summary:

Pakistan: 255/4 (Sidra Amin 121 not out, Muneeba Ali 76; Ayabonga Khaka 2/36)
South Africa: 259/2 (Marizanne Kapp 120 not out, Tazmin Brits 101 not out; Rameen Shamim)