Latest news with #Kapp
Daily Maverick
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
‘Experienced' Marizanne Kapp's welcome return to boost stuttering Proteas Women
The Proteas Women will be boosted by the inclusion of star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp when they face the West Indies. The Proteas Women had a dire 50-over tri-series tour of Sri Lanka at the start of the month – winning only one of their four matches – but now have star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp back in the squad hoping to make a change. The Proteas will tackle West Indies in Barbados throughout June in a six-match white-ball tour, hoping for an improved performance. The last time South Africa won back-to-back cricket matches was in the T20 World Cup in October 2024 – with only two sporadic victories since. From that point, they had a seven-match, all-format tour against England in which they only won one match and then more recently their singular victory against Sri Lanka in a tri-series that included India. Head coach Mandla Mashimbyi came on board halfway through the series against England and arguably the team's most important player, Kapp, was rested for the ODI tour in Sri Lanka. With the Cricket World Cup in India starting in September, the excuses are beginning to dry up. 'Sometimes things have to go wrong for you to get them right,' Mashimbyi said about his ambitions for success at the Cricket World Cup. Kapp's addition to the side will help ensure things go right more often. 'You can never underestimate the value of an experienced player in your squad,' Mashimbyi said of Kapp's return to the national fold 'Based on the plans that were had for Marizanne, in terms of her fitness block and to make sure by the time we get to the World Cup she'll be where she needs to be – that was most important for us at this time.' Besides experience, 35-year-old Kapp adds quality swing bowling with the new ball as well as runs in the middle order – areas in which the team struggled in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 'Having her back in the squad is something I'm looking forward to seeing,' Mashimbyi added. 'Seeing how she operates within the team environment and also the experience that she brings.' Possible wildcard In place of Kapp as well as the ill Anneke Bosch, youngsters Karabo Meso, Seshnie Naidu and Miané Smit were given a run. 'One of the main things we're trying to do as well is create depth within the squad, knowing that anybody coming into the squad can impact the team positively,' Mashimbyi said. Meso and Smit are with the team again for the tour of West Indies, while Naidu has been dropped. Bosch has also not recovered in time for the tour. While Mashimbyi has not been afraid to turn to youth in his short time as coach thus far, he has also not ruled out calling on South Africa's eighth-most-experienced player in the 50-over format. Former captain Dané van Niekerk made a u-turn on her international retirement in 2024 and was aiming to make a return to the international stage at the World Cup in September. That looks unlikely at this stage but not out of the realm of possibility, according to Mashimbyi. 'We are not in a position to say that she can make it or not,' he said. 'Anything can happen. In terms of her being in the plans, I've had a chat with her in February about the things that we require for her to put her name back into the hat. 'I'm going to have to have a follow-up chat with her regarding what she thinks going forward. 'In terms of that, she was not in the plans initially, but you can never count anybody out. When the opportunity presents itself and she's the one that's available to make the team, or she's fit enough, or she's where she needs to be… we can't control that.' Youngster Smit and Suné Luus are currently the two top-order batters who bowl spin in the squad. Neither has made the position completely her own, however. Smit is only two matches into her international career and Luus hasn't scored a half-century in the format since September 2023. 'These tours are not casting [any names] in stone,' Mashimbyi said. 'It's to create depth and to see what other players can do. 'I'll never count a player out. Everybody in domestic cricket, who has done well, is still eligible to play in the upcoming World Cups.' Van Niekerk has a batting average of 36.25 and a bowling average of 19.14, with 138 scalps with her legbreaks, in international cricket. She was in solid form for Western Province Women as well in the past season, scoring a 64-ball century against South Western Districts Women in a T20 clash, which was her second-last match of the season. DM
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mandla Mashimbyi hoping Marizanne Kapp can help the Proteas Women return to winning ways
The Proteas will be hoping Marizanne Kapp can bolster the bowling attack in the West Indies. Picture: BackpagePix Image: Picture: BackpagePix Veteran allrounder Marizanne Kapp will make her much-anticipated return to the Proteas Women's team on their upcoming tour to the West Indies. Kapp was sorely missed during the recent Tri-Series in Sri Lanka, where the Proteas failed to qualify for the final of the competition involving the hosts and India. The Proteas won just one of their four ODI's played in Colombo. Kapp will not only add valuable experience, but also her quality with the ball especially after the Proteas bowlers leaked runs at will during the Tri-Series. The 35-year-old will be joined by fellow seamers Tumi Sekhukhune and Ayanda Hlubi, who replace Seshnie Naidu and left-handed batter Lara Goodall. Nineteen-year-old leg-spinner Naidu played just one game, recording figures of 1/40, while Goodall only managed 61 runs at average of 15.25. 'You can never underestimate the value of an experienced player in your squad,' said Proteas coach Mandla Mashimbyi. 'But, you know, based on the plans that we had for Marizanne in terms of her fitness block and to make sure that, you know, by the time we get to the World Cup, should be where she needs to be. That was most important for us at this time 'But having her back into the squad, it's something that I'm looking forward to seeing, seeing how she operates within the team environment and also the experience that she brings within the team as well.' In Kapp's absence, the Proteas may have unearthed her natural successor with young Annerie Dercksen, who starred with the bat in the Tri-Series. The ICC Emerging Player of the Year was sensational, striking her maiden ODI century, and a further half-century to top the Tri-Series scoring charts ahead of Indian superstars Smitri Mandhana (264) and Jemimah Rodrigues (245) with 276 runs at an average of 92.0 and 113.1 strike-rate. 'Dercksen is a huge talent. She's a lovely girl. She listens, she's willing to learn over time. 'She works. I mean, people don't understand. This girl will drive from Beaufort West to Bloem just to go work on her bowling and she would drive to PE to work with our batting coach,' he said. 'This is a girl that's willing to sacrifice everything to make sure that she gets better. So, I'm not so surprised with the results that I'm seeing from her. 'So she's really come of age now and for her to be doing what she's doing at this young age, it just shows you the work that she's putting in behind the scenes that is starting to come through. And I'm really, really happy for her. 'You know, I'm not, I'm telling you now that she will definitely be one of the best all-rounders in the world in the near future.' Proteas top-order batter Anneke Bosch was not considered for the Windies series as she is struggling with the illness that caused to withdraw from the Sri Lankan tour.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Exhibit explores Springfield's witch panic that occurred years before Salem
SPRINGFIELD — Years before people accued of being witches were tortured, tried and hanged in Salem, witch hysteria swept through Springfield when a prominent couple began acting strangely in the eyes of suspicious citizens. A new exhibit at the Springfield Museums called 'Witch Panic! Massachusetts before Salem' explores the case against Hugh and Mary Parsons. William Pynchon, a businessman from outside Boston, and six other men founded Springfield 1636. As people settled into this town of around 100 citizens, there was a series of unexplained events that spooked nearly everyone, prompting whispers of evil spirits and witches. 'It's hard to pin down an exact place when a story like this starts because it's so dependent on fear and anxieties,' said Elizabeth Kapp, curator of history at the museums. While there was nothing strange about adults falling ill in new settlements, it was unsettling when children got sick and died —especially when they were related to the founding and religious elite. Pynchon's granddaughters, Sarah and Margaret Smith, became gravely ill and died in 1648. George Moxon, the settlement's minister, spent the winter of 1651 nursing his daughters back to health. Martha and Rebecca Moxon were seriously sick in December and January but ultimately survived. And then there was the unspeakable case of the missing cow's tongue. Anthony Dorchester, a boarder living with the Parsons, had set upon cooking stew with a cow's tongue. But while he was in church, it disappeared, and that sent tongues wagging. Nervous citizens began laying blame for their problems on the Parsons. 'One of the more prevalent stories that was repeated several times throughout both Mary and Hugh's trial was this story about a dinner that mysteriously vanished,' said Kapp. 'There's also stories of strange weather patterns and animals falling ill when usually they're quite healthy.' Kapp said the Parsons became easy targets of suspicion. Hugh was a brickmaker, and while his services were desperately needed, people found him to be prickly and off-putting. 'His skills were necessary, but his social interactions don't seem to have fit into societal expectations,' Kapp said. 'There are stories of him promising to fulfill brick orders and then he misses those deadlines. Upon being reminded of these deadlines, he's wishing ill upon people who ordered the bricks.' Mary Parsons was a divorced woman from Wales who received special permission from religious leaders to be seen as a 'formally independent woman' because 'divorce was not a thing' in those days, Kapp said. When she moved to Massachusetts, she began working for Pynchon, but even her professional relationship with him could not protect her from scurrilous accusations of witchcraft. 'Mary was also looking for answers to these mysterious events and accused someone else of witchcraft,' Kapp said. 'The problem: That wasn't taken as an accusation of witchcraft. It went to court as a slander trial.' Parsons lost the case and was ordered to pay the defamed woman three pounds in silver or 24 bushels of corn. 'But it also meant the town of Springfield started wondering: Why was Mary Parsons looking for witches? Why does Mary Parsons know so much about witchcraft?' Kapp said. Parsons was arrested on Feb. 26, 1651, Her husband was arrested the next day. Their cases began in Springfield but were moved to Boston where the couple was jailed while awaiting their trials. 'She was tried on May 8, 1651, and was charged with two crimes, for having familiarity with the devil as a witch, and for willingly and most wickedly murdering her own child,' said Kapp. Parsons was acquitted on charges of witchcraft but plead guilty to the killing, something that was never proved. 'There was no way to know one way or the other,' Kapp said, because Parsons died shortly after the trial and the court simply accepted her confession. Hugh Parsons languished in jail for 15 months until he was tried. A lower court found him guilty of witchcraft, but the verdict was overturned on appeal. After his exoneration, he moved with his remaining daughter to Rhode Island. All of this happened 40 years before the infamous Salem witch trials. 'The events in Springfield have been called by historian Malcolm Gaskell the first American witch panic because they truly consumed the entire town. That helped set a scene that led to Salem, because in Salem, we see basically what happened in Springfield, but exponentially growing,' Kapp said. While the Springfield Museums features many traveling exhibits, 'Witch Panic' was curated by Kapp and a team of around a dozen employees working in the museums' collections, exhibits and archives. Kapp said they based their exhibit on dozens of sources and 'hundreds and hundreds of pages' of documentation, including original notes William Pynchon took while speaking with his fellow citizens at the time. The exhibit is on display now through Nov. 2 at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Springfield Museums president and CEO Kay Simpson said she hopes the sprawling, two floor display helps the city capitalize on America's fascination of witches. 'It's a very important historical moment. It happened here and we were part of this fabric that was taking place in Massachusetts in the 1600's,' she said. 'It also points to how the image of witches has changed over the years. There's something inherently interesting about witches and witchcraft.' Gov. Healey at Mount Holyoke: 'This is a moment that clarifies our values' Speed bumps petition gains support after child killed by car in Springfield Number of older homeless adults increased nearly 20% this year in Hampden County 'His mercy was never returned': Jordan Cabrera sentenced to 12-15 years for fatally shooting Jahvante Perez Read the original article on MassLive.
Daily Maverick
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Proteas Women have a Marizanne Kapp-sized hole in team for tri-series quest
The Proteas have unearthed talented all-rounders, but none has the dual ability of Marizanne Kapp, whose presence with ball and bat is missed in Sri Lanka. The Proteas Women have struggled in their 50-over tri-series against India and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka so far without the services of the always reliable all-rounder Marizanne Kapp. Kapp was rested by Cricket South Africa (CSA) as she 'continues her conditioning block in preparation for the subsequent tours and the World Cup in India', CSA said before the four-match tour. The Proteas have lost both their opening two matches, first a 15-run loss to India and then a demoralising five-wicket loss to hosts Sri Lanka. The side have, so far, besides their fielding performances, struggled mainly in two departments: runs in the middle order and penetration with the new ball. In their first two matches, the highest score from batters three to six has been 46, scored by Lara Goodall against Sri Lanka in the second match, the only score above 40 so far for batters in those positions. The team has also picked up only one wicket in the first 10 overs of both matches, with three seamers — Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka and Nadine de Klerk – taking the new ball. Those are periods in matches, with bat and ball, where Kapp has excelled in recent years. Since 2019, while batting in the middle order, Kapp's lowest average in a calendar year in Women's One Day Internationals has been 43.75 and the highest 75.00, in 2023. Last year, she was the second-highest run scorer in the format, behind captain Laura Wolvaardt, and the second-highest wicket-taker, behind Nonkulukelo Mlaba. But with Kapp at 35 years old, the Proteas Women have to learn to live without the formidable all-rounder. They are now experiencing a taste of that reality. 'Massive loss' Before the first match of the tour, skipper Wolvaardt admitted that not having Kapp around left a huge gap. 'Kappie is obviously a massive loss for us,' she said. 'She's probably the most skilful seam bowler in the world. 'The way that she bats as well, is sort of a double loss. 'In saying that, we do have some other seaming all-rounders in the side like Nads [de Klerk] and [Annerie] Dercksen. 'We have two other seamers here as well. Hopefully, they're able to fill the hole that she leaves.' That hole has been difficult to replace so far. Not only have the seamers struggled to pick up wickets, other than De Klerk, they've also leaked runs like a broken faucet. Spinner Mlaba has been the leading wicket-taker thus far with four pegs. It was largely expected of the team's premier spin bowler to lead the charge in subcontinent conditions, but the seamers, barring De Klerk, have struggled for control. Dercksen has been a shining light with the bat so far, however. Coming in at No 7, the big-hitting all-rounder has hit 91 runs in the 80 deliveries she's faced so far, including a maiden half-century, striking an unbeaten 61 off 60 deliveries against Sri Lanka. 'I think she can become one of the best finishers in the world,' Proteas head coach Mandla Mashimbyi said. 'She's got power, she has skin in the game in terms of understanding what she needs to do. She's been really good for us with the bat.' It hasn't gone as well with the ball. She has conceded 53 runs in the five overs she's bowled across the two matches. 'She's the type of bowler that you don't want to put pressure on in terms of expectations,' Mashimbyi said about her medium-paced bowling that is still raw at the moment. 'She must just go out there and enjoy herself and I know she will put her hand up when it matters … and that will be in the next two games.' No comparison Dercksen, having only recently turned 24, has the potential to be a special player for the Proteas, having clinched the International Cricket Council Emerging Player of the Year award for 2024. She is already being compared with the legendary Kapp. 'I've been compared to Kappie a lot and I'm really not sure why,' she said. 'She's in a class of her own and someone I really look up to, and I see it as a big honour.' The comparisons are somewhat unfair at this point. Dercksen is still in the infancy of her career, having donned the green and gold only eight times. Her role in the side and her skillset are different. Dercksen is a basher, a clean striker of the ball who can clear the boundary without too much fuss. Kapp is an accumulator who prefers to see the leather whistling along the carpet, except for the occasional slog-sweep unleashed against spin bowlers. On the bowling front, Kapp has discipline and accuracy few have been able to replicate, while Dercksen is an aggressive bowler whose precision is often compromised, evident in how she took her only wicket of the series: strangling Smriti Mandhana down the leg side. When asked about whether Kapp's on-field ability is missed, however, Mashimbyi answered ambiguously. 'Yes and no. You can't replace experience,' he said 'If you look at the results, it could be better, but as I sit here, I don't think we were beaten; we just didn't play the important moments very well.' Those important moments are, in recent times, where Kapp has excelled. 'It's also part of learning,' Mashimbyi said. 'I think you learn better when you lose than when you win.' South Africa hope to turn their losing streak around tomorrow against India in their third match, with another loss guaranteeing they won't make the final of the tri-series. 'We do have a lot of good things that are happening on this tour,' Mashimbyi said. 'That's what I want to focus on and then work on the things that we're not doing really well.' DM
Khaleej Times
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Mumbai beat Delhi to clinch second Women's Premier League title
Mumbai Indians won their second Women's Premier League title on Saturday after a sharp performance from their bowlers and a solid knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur helped them beat Delhi Capitals by eight runs. The champions also fended off a valiant effort by Marizanne Kapp (40) in the second innings to secure a victory in the final over of the match at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai. Mumbai started the final off on a rough note, after Delhi captain Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Kapp striking to leave them reeling at 15-2 at the end of the fifth over. But Kaur quickly picked up the slack, stitching together an 89-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt (30), before the latter fell in the 15th over. Amelia Kerr (2) and Sajeevan Sajana (0) were then dismissed quickly, while Kaur (66) herself departed in the 17th over. Some smart batting from Amanjot Kaur (14 not out) helped Mumbai finish with a flourish and post 149-7. Delhi didn't get off to a great start either in their chase, with openers Lanning (13) and Shafali Verma (4) falling quickly to leave them at 17-2 at the end of the third over. Jemimah Rodrigues helped them rebuild, hitting 30 runs off 21 balls, but was dismissed by Kerr in the 11th over. The mantle then fell to Kapp, who valiantly smacked 40 runs off 26 balls, before falling in the 18th over. While Niki Prasad offered a glimmer of hope in the final few overs, hitting 25 runs off 23 balls, Delhi ultimately fell short on 141-9. Kaur, also named the player of the match, called Mumbai's win a "great team effort". "We fought till the last ball, all about being there and doing the right things again and again," she said. Lanning said that while Delhi had a good season, they could not "get over the line". "Another partnership for a couple of overs might have given us a chance. We are all pretty disappointed."
