Cricket

The London Spirit, led by star allrounder Deepti Sharma, are poised to face the Oval Invincibles in the Women's Hundred eliminator on Saturday. Deepti has been a formidable force against the Invincibles this season, showcasing her all-around prowess.In their first encounter at Lord's, Deepti top-scored for Spirit with 44 runs and claimed three wickets for 18 runs. In their second meeting at The Oval, she again impressed with an unbeaten 46 runs and three wickets for 18 runs.Deepti's performances have been crucial for Spirit, who are determined to secure a place in Sunday's final against Welsh Fire. "We are very clear about what we have to do and our plans," Deepti said. "We just need to keep it simple and enjoy each game."Deepti has been a consistent performer for Spirit, scoring at least 30 runs in each of her five innings and taking seven wickets at an impressive average of 19.57. She was named Player of the Match in the final game of the regular season, guiding Spirit to a seven-wicket victory over Northern Superchargers.The boom in franchise leagues has fostered a unique camaraderie among players from different countries. Deepti has forged strong bonds with England captain Heather Knight, former Australia captain Meg Lanning, and England spinners Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean."I always forget in-the-past things," Deepti said. "I try to be in the present and watch the moment. They are good players and good team-mates, so we gel up every day."Spirit faced an anxious wait for their place in the eliminator to be confirmed, but they ultimately secured their spot after the Invincibles defeated Trent Rockets in their final regular match.The Invincibles, seeking their third Hundred title, will be without Chamari Athapaththu, who has joined Sri Lanka for their ODI series in Ireland. However, they will rely on the match-winning abilities of Marizanne Kapp, who has been instrumental in their success this season.Kapp's all-around contributions, including 181 runs and 10 wickets, have earned her high praise from Invincibles captain Lauren Winfield-Hill. "She's absolutely the first name on any teamsheet in any competition anywhere in the world," Winfield-Hill said.The eliminator promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Deepti Sharma's all-around brilliance and the Invincibles' formidable lineup will make for an exciting contest.

Marizanne Kapp, the South African all-rounder, has revealed that she had decided to retire from international cricket earlier this year. However, she was persuaded to reconsider by CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe and is now grateful that she did not go through with it.Kapp had been feeling the strain of balancing franchise cricket with her commitments to the South African team, which is undergoing a rebuilding phase. The fitness controversy surrounding her wife, Dane van Niekerk, had also taken its toll.However, Nkwe urged Kapp to take her time and consider her decision carefully. They have since worked together to manage her workload, and Kapp is now committed to playing for South Africa for the foreseeable future."I did retire earlier this year - or asked to retire - and luckily I didn't," Kapp told ESPNcricinfo. "I spoke to the director of cricket, and he actually asked me to just hang on, think it through, [and] don't make decisions too quickly, and I'm glad that I didn't go through with it because I feel like I'm at the peak of my career."Kapp's decision to continue playing is a major boost for South Africa, who have lost several big names in recent years, including van Niekerk, Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee, and Shabnim Ismail.Kapp's ODI bowling workload will be carefully managed, but she remains confident of playing a full all-round role in T20s for both her franchise sides and her country. She has committed to playing all ODIs which are part of the Women's Championship and count towards World Cup qualification, but will miss some T20Is including November's series against England, which overlaps with the end of the WBBL.Kapp's decision to sign a three-year deal with the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL was influenced by the opportunity to work with coach Jonathan Batty and play alongside Meg Lanning. She is also looking forward to having a chance to settle with one team after a difficult season with the Sydney Thunder last year.Overall, Kapp believes that she is at the peak of her career, and her numbers support this claim. In all T20s this year, her average is 33.06 and her strike rate at 142.97, both considerably up on her career figures. In ODIs since 2023, she is averaging 62.63.Kapp traces her success back to the Test century against England in 2022, but admits that it has been a difficult journey. "It's probably been my toughest couple of years; it's not been easy," she said. "I've always enjoyed my batting… but [I used to] feel like the world was always so focused on my bowling and wouldn't speak about my batting, and that makes you lose confidence."

Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in their Women's Hundred clash against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a comfortable seven-wicket win. The victory marked a return to form for the Invincibles, who had endured a two-game winless streak.The Originals, seeking redemption after a disappointing loss to Northern Superchargers, posted a modest total of 125 for 4. Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney provided a solid start, but their momentum was halted by sharp catches from Seren Smale and Ryana MacDonald-Gay. Skipper Sophie Ecclestone provided a late surge with an unbeaten 26 from 15 balls.In response, the Invincibles' chase was anchored by an unbeaten 67-run partnership between Paige Scholfield and Marizanne Kapp. Scholfield, the Meerkat Match Hero, struck 48 from 27 balls, while Kapp contributed 19 from 11. Opener Chamari Athapaththu laid the foundation with a steady 33 from 36 balls.The Invincibles' fielding was equally impressive, with Amanda-Jade Wellington emerging as the standout bowler with figures of 2 for 22. The team's disciplined performance and ability to capitalize on the Originals' mistakes proved decisive.The victory propelled the Invincibles to second place in the points table, while the Originals remained in sixth position. Both teams will be eager to maintain their momentum in their upcoming fixtures.

In a thrilling encounter at Lord's, the Oval Invincibles and London Spirit played out a dramatic tie in front of a packed crowd of 17,810. The match was marked by exceptional performances from overseas stars Marizanne Kapp and Deepti Sharma.Kapp, the South African all-rounder, starred for the Invincibles with a brilliant 4 for 11 and a quickfire 47. Her bowling prowess was on full display as she dismissed Meg Lanning, Cordelia Griffith, Georgia Redmayne, and Heather Knight. With the bat, she played a crucial role in the Invincibles' chase, smashing a 32-ball 47.Deepti, the Indian all-rounder, was equally impressive for the Spirit. She took 3 for 18 with her economical off-spin, including the key wickets of Alice Capsey, Paige Scholfield, and Mady Villiers. She also contributed a valuable 44 runs with the bat, anchoring the Spirit's innings.The match was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading blows throughout. The Invincibles looked in control after Kapp's early wickets, but Deepti's recovery innings kept the Spirit in the game. In the chase, Kapp's knock gave the Invincibles hope, but Deepti's bowling and some smart fielding from the Spirit kept them in the hunt.The final over was a nail-biting affair. With the Invincibles needing two runs from the final ball, Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Jo Gardner attempted a match-winning two. However, a brilliant run-out by Charlie Dean denied them victory.The tie was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams. Kapp and Deepti were the standout performers, but the contributions of other players, such as Cordelia Griffith, Georgia Redmayne, and Eva Gray for the Spirit, and Alice Capsey, Sarah Glenn, and Amanda-Jade Wellington for the Invincibles, were also crucial.

Melbourne Stars have secured a major coup ahead of the upcoming WBBL season, signing South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp on a three-year deal. Kapp, who was the No. 1 draft pick for Sydney Thunder last season, has been acquired under the new rule allowing clubs to sign one multi-year pre-draft player.Kapp's decision to join the Stars was heavily influenced by the opportunity to work with coach Jonathan Batty and former Australia captain Meg Lanning, with whom she shared a successful stint at Delhi Capitals in the WPL. "I've been working with JB [Jonathan Batty] for a couple of years and then obviously working with Meg was a big factor for me moving, I like the way they work," Kapp explained.Kapp's impressive resume includes stints with Sydney Sixers, where she won back-to-back titles, and Perth Scorchers, where she was named Player of the Final in the 2021-22 season. Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch hailed Kapp's signing as a significant boost to the team's title aspirations. "Marizanne is one of the best all-rounders in the world with an outstanding record at both domestic and international level," Crouch said. "As well as her talents with both bat and ball, she will add invaluable experience to our young squad in our quest to be among the challengers for WBBL 10."Kapp played a pivotal role in South Africa's recent tour of Australia, delivering a standout performance in their historic first ODI victory over the home side with a brilliant 75 runs and 3 for 12 at North Sydney Oval.Kapp joins Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers) and Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat) as the third overseas player to be signed before the WBBL draft. The draft is scheduled for early September, with the WBBL season set to commence shortly after the T20 World Cup in late October.

South Africa's narrow defeat in the second ODI against India has instilled immense confidence in the team, according to Marizanne Kapp. Despite falling short by just four runs, the Proteas displayed a fighting spirit that bodes well for their future prospects, particularly with the 50-over World Cup in India next year.After a shaky start, losing three wickets for 67 runs, South Africa rallied behind Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 134 and Kapp's crucial contribution. The duo forged a 184-run partnership, bringing the Proteas within striking distance of the 325-run target."To get that close is obviously a massive confidence booster," said Kapp. "We know we can reach that total."Kapp highlighted the team's intent to play an aggressive brand of cricket, a departure from their previous performance in the series opener. "We had a meeting with the batting coach after our first ODI," she explained. "He said that if we had scored 100 in 20 overs in that ODI, he would have been happy even if we got bowled out."During the chase, Wolvaardt surpassed 4000 ODI runs, becoming South Africa's highest run-getter in the format. Kapp also reached the 3000-run mark, solidifying her status as one of the team's most prolific batters.Kapp's batting has flourished in recent months, with two centuries and four half-centuries in her last 15 innings. She attributes her success to a positive mindset and a natural partnership with Wolvaardt."The way my batting has gone in the last couple of years, I have been striking at close to 100," said Kapp. "I have found that if I am being positive, I usually score runs more often than not."Despite the narrow defeat, Kapp believes that games like these bring out the best in her and Wolvaardt. "I pride myself in performing in those situations," she said. "Wolfie and I, we enjoy that."