“People always say I’m so angry when I play cricket,” Kapp told media following South Africa’s crucial six-wicket victory over Group A rivals India at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday.
“But show me a bowler who’s going to smile when someone hits you for a six or a four.
“I actually get annoyed when bowlers smile when they bowl wide and get hit for fours and sixes.”
Kapp had just delivered a match-winning performance, taking 2-27 before blasting an unbeaten 81 from 45 balls to guide South Africa to a tense win in their chase of their 159 target.
The 36-year-old was asked after the match: “You often look angry, but this time you looked very angry. And you barely celebrated your wickets…”
Kapp revealed she had been ill in warm-up.
“I didn’t feel well at all. After warm-up, I went into the changing room and cried a bit.”
T20 World Cup: Race for the semi-finals hots up
“But then our team doctor is obviously amazing and in the end it was just a wonderful game of cricket for us.”
In the immediate afterglow of the victory which put South Africa’s bid for semi-final qualification back on track, Kapp admitted her match-winning innings had been probably the best T20 knock of her Proteas career.
A high-flying six from Marizanne Kapp and a boundary from Chloe Tryon 🇿🇦👏
The first time the Proteas Women succesfully chase over 150 runs in a #T20WorldCup match🏏💥#SSCricket | #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/ec8QFksE1X
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 21, 2026
And in the tense encounter, she did allow a brief, visible moment of celebration after dismissing India opener Smriti Mandhana.
“It’s always a challenge bowling to Smriti,” Kapp said. “She’s a wonderful batter and we’ve had a lot of battles out there.
“It always helps when you know your position and she’s been in the international set-up now for two years,” Kapp added.
“I’ve seen quite a bit of her and obviously it makes it easier that I play with her at Delhi Capitals.”
The vastly experienced Kapp said she still gets a thrill from seeing how women’s cricket continues to grow.
“The crowd out here today, even though they were supporting India, it’s still so amazing to see, just the love for the sport and still being part of that is absolutely amazing.
“I can just imagine how it feels to go all the way, but that’s not our focus at the moment,” she added.
“We still have two games to play for now and that’s going to be our main focus.”
South Africa plays their final two group games against Bangladesh and the Netherlands this week as they bid to finish in the top two in Group A and qualify for the semi-finals.
Proteas Women T20 World Cup Fixtures
25 June: South Africa vs Netherlands, Bristol County Ground, Bristol (7:30pm)
28 June: South Africa vs Bangladesh, Lord’s, London (11:30am)
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
