Marizanne Kapp was at her blistering best with both bat and ball for South Africa in the rain-affected second ODI against Sri Lanka to help seal a series-winning 2-0 lead, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The Proteas beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs on the DLS method in Potchefstroom to clinch an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The home side secured a comfortable win at Senwes Park, despite missing the expertise of captain Dane van Niekerk due to injury.
READ MORE: Dane out injured, Proteas Women sent in to bat
After being inserted to bat first, the Proteas enjoyed a great start to their innings with Andrie Steyn (24 off 40 balls, 3×4) and Laura Wolvaardt putting together 71 runs for the opening stand before Steyn was trapped leg before by Inoka Ranaweera (1-52).
Wolvaardt atoned for her golden duck in the first ODI by racking up 64 runs (69 balls, 8×4) as the 19-year-old registered her 12th ODI half-century. Lara Goodall walked to the crease at No 3 and added 52 (77 balls, 5×4) before being dismissed by Kavisha Dilhari (2-34 in 10 overs) during the final powerplay overs.
READ ALSO: Van Niekerk impressed with young talent
Marizanne Kapp was at her best with the bat to help power South Africa to 268-7 in their 50 overs. The all-rounder smashed six fours and four sensational sixes on her way to a swashbuckling 69 not out off 34 balls.
The rain delayed proceedings early in Sri Lanka’s reply and resulted in their innings being reduced to 47 overs, with a revised target of 262 runs.
The early dismissal of Prasadani Weerakkody by Kapp (2-41 in nine overs) didn’t phase the visitors as captain Chamari Athapaththu smashed a sensational 94 off 78 balls (13×4, 3×6) before being dismissed by stand-in captain Sune Luus (1-38 in 10 overs) within sight of her century.
Breakthrough by @SuneLuus! The wicket-keeper Faye Tunnicliffe takes a good catch to get rid of Attapaththu for 94 (78 balls, 13x4s, 3x6s). SL wmn currently 134/2 (22.2 ovs), need 128.#ProteasWomen #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/JAAnboWJJJ
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 14, 2019
Having posted a 110-run partnership alongside her captain, Anushka Sanjeewani (46 off 68 balls, 3×4) continued the Sri Lankan cause before a brilliant yorker from Kapp bowled the right-hander with the Islanders still needing 99 runs for the win.
The Sri Lankan innings fell apart soon after that as wickets fell in quick succession, including four run-outs that saw the visitors dismissed for 231 in the 47th and final over to leave them 31 runs short of their revised target.
READ ALSO: Dane does it again for Proteas
South Africa and Sri Lanka will face off in the final ODI of the three-match series at the same venue on Sunday, with the Proteas hoping to complete another series whitewash over the Islanders following their recent T20I series sweep.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
