From tears to triumph: How Kapp and Brits' bathroom chat changed Proteas' World Cup destiny

Marizanne Kapp and Tazmin Brits are among the most senior members of the Proteas side. Just one year separates them at 35 and 34 years old respectively. 

It would be fair to suggest that this on-going ICC Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka would be the veterans last shot at the holy grail.

After their embarrassing defeat in the opening game, when England routed the Proteas for 69 before strolling to a 10-wicket victory, the pair called an urgent meeting.

“Kappie and I actually had this conversation, funny enough, in the bathroom straight after that England game. We both had this conversation and we were like, yes, we definitely don't want to go out like this,” Brits said. 

“I think in general, not just because it might be, if not, it is our last ODI (World Cup), I think maybe just winning a trophy.

“I mean, there's a lot of people that have come up to get the team to where they are. They've played many, many years, you know, like the Mings (Mignon du Preez), the Shabs (Shabnim Ismail), the Danes (Dane van Niekerk), to build this (Proteas team).

“So, I think just having silverware in the cabinet and knowing that you are part of it, of course, that will definitely put the cherry on top.”

The Proteas will now have that wonderful opportunity to play for the coveted trophy after exacting revenge on England with a historic 125-run victory in their semi-final in Guwahati, which earned them a first-ever spot in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Brits played her part with a crucial 45 upfront in a 116-run opening stand with the brilliant Laura Wolvaardt, and Kapp delivered arguably the performance of her career with 42 runs and a magnificent 5/20 with the ball. 

Kapp, of course, played with all the Proteas Women pioneers that Brits referred to for the majority of her 16-year international career, and having experienced the heartbreak of both previous World Cup semi-final defeats in Bristol (2017) and Christchurch (2022) along with them, the veteran all-rounder believed her Guwahati heroics was a long time coming.

“I think it's just to go back to the experience of having been here for so many years and ultimately that is what wins you semi-finals and World Cups,” Kapp said.

“I feel like the past semi-finals I probably haven't been at my best and have not contributed the way I should have. So, I'm really happy that I could make a difference in the result.”

There was nothing in the build-up that suggested that Kapp would deliver a career-defining performance. By her own admission, “I probably haven't had the best World Cup personally” and had endured a horrible net session in the lead up to the semi-final before coach Mandla Mashimbyi intervened. 

“To be honest, I probably had one of the worst net sessions of the last 10 years of my career. It ended with me crying,” Kapp said. 

“And look, I think that's just cricket. I just believed in my skill. So initially in our first net session, all of our batters, we probably lost like 10 wickets in the first two overs we faced. And then the coach just called us in and said, listen, just put a price in your wickets. 

“Even yesterday's meeting, I feel like coach Mandla actually made us feel relaxed because we had a totally different meeting with him. 

“Just the way he's been going about his business, everything was just different from that moment on. 

“So initially, a bit frantic in the nets until we had that meeting with coach.”

The last word though goes to Brits, who was a former world junior javelin champion but missed out on competing at the 2012 Olympics due to a horrific car crash, but now finally has the opportunity to go for gold.

“I come from a sporting background and I always used to say, no matter what sport I do, you want to do it to the best of your ability. So you don't want to just be in a final. You want to end up winning it,” Brits said.