Proteas shine in record win

London – Proteas captain, Dane van Niekerk and No 1-ranked oneday bowler, Marizanne Kapp (below) took eight wickets between them, securing a comprehensive, 10-wicket drubbing over the West Indies at Grace Road in Leicester yesterday.

Van Niekerk became the first South African bowler, male or female to take four wickets without conceding a single run, while Kapp returned career-best figures of 4/14, with three of those wickets falling in one over.

It was South Africa who won the toss and elected to field first, a wise decision in the end by the skipper that had the Windies bundled out for just 48 in 25.2 overs.

West Indies’ total the lowest score at a World Cup since Denmark were bowled out for 47 by England in 1993, although Pakistan still hold the record after managing just 27 against Australia in 1997.

The fireworks were lit by pace bowler Shabnim Ismail (2/16), after which Kapp took three wickets in just five balls, seeing the opposition slump to 16/5 after 7.5 overs.

Van Niekerk joined the party and sent down 3.2 overs, picking up four wickets without conceding a run.

The batting reply was equally as clinical as openers Lizelle Lee (26*) and Laura Wolva-ardt (19*) comfortably secured the win.

The victory came with 262 deliveries to spare, the largest remaining ball margin in World Cup history.

“If I could script it, I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” she said. “We had our plans coming into the game and it worked to the T. I’m really proud of the bowlers, especially my two opening bowlers – world class.

‘‘I’d be lying if I said I bowled to a plan, all I was saying to myself was ‘don’t bowl a full-toss’ and I think they (West Indies) just missed the balls.”

South Africa will face their biggest challenge yet when they take on England in Bristol on Wednesday.