SA stars in team of choice

Wolvaardt, Kapp, Van Niekerk make the World Cup XI after stellar performances

SOUTH Africa’s star trio of Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and captain Dane van Niekerk have all been included in the Team of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.

Wolvaardt, who is only 18-years-old, finished the tournament with 324 runs at an average of 64.80, which included four half-centuries, including a top score of 71 in the semi-final against England.

Van Niekerk and Kapp were the leading bowlers in the competition, with 15 and 13 wickets apiece at 10.00 and 19.38, respectively. Van Niekerk claimed three four-wicket hauls, including a world record 4/0 with her leg-spinners against the West Indies.

Kapp, meanwhile, lived up to her billing as the World’s No1 ODI bowler as the seamer formed a devastating new-ball partnership with the equally impressive Shabnim Ismail.

The World Cup XI will be led by India’s Mithali Raj. The 34-year-old from Hyderabad led from the front, scoring 409 runs, which inspired India to reach only their second World Cup final.

There was, however, no fairytale finish for the leading run-scorer in the history of women’s ODI cricket after she was run out for just 17 as India lost by nine runs to England on Sunday.

Raj is joined by her fellow Indian teammates Harmanpreet Kaur and teenager Deepti Sharma. Kaur set the tournament alight with a breathtaking innings of 171 not out off only 115 balls, which blew the defending champions Australia out of the World Cup.

Sharma, 19, meanwhile, enjoyed an outstanding allround tournament with 216 runs and 12 wickets.

Understandably, world champions England had the biggest contingent in the side including Player of the Tournament Tamsin Beaumont, Player of the Final Anya Shrubsole, wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor and left-arm spinner Alex Hartley.

Ellyse Perry was Australia’s sole representative.

England’s Natalie Sciver, who scored 369 runs and took seven wickets, was chosen as the 12th player.

Raj, Taylor and Shrubsole have been picked in the Team of the Tournament for the second time in their careers. Raj and Taylor were selected in the Team of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009, which England won in Sydney in 2009, while Shrubsole was named in the Team of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013, which Australia won in India in February 2013.