Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail are lighting up the TATA Women’s Premier League in India. Having played together for more than a decade as the Proteas Women’s destructive opening bowling unit, are now playing on opposites of the track but have so much love and admiration for each other as they scale new heights at #WPL2024.
Even though she has retired from international cricket, 35-year-old Ismail playing for the Mumbai Indians continues to torment batters with her pace, whilst Kapp playing for Delhi Capitals is also showing her fire-power with the ball.
Ismail toppled the Gujrat Titans top order which included the dangerous Beth Mooney on Sunday 25 February at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Her impressive figures of 3/18, helped seal the victory for her team.
“It boils down to commitment and it is never easy. I still have that fire and passion in me to play cricket, even though I retired from cricket last year. I want to be the best in the world which I believe I am and I put in the hard work and yards and it works for me,” Ismail said at the post-match press conference.
Marizanne Kapp took to her social page on “X” to send a special message to her long-time bowling partner that she shared a special bond with:
Yeas partner!!!! How I miss opening the bowling with you! https://t.co/CVC6VuiZpF
— Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) February 25, 2024
35-year-old Kapp coming off a good tour in Australia with the Proteas Women, found her bowling arm in full flight on Monday 26 February when Delhi Capitals thumped UP Warriors by 9-wickets. Kapp bowled the most impressive spell of 4-1-5-3, with an economy rate of 1.25 and proving that age is just a number and that she is still one dangerous bowler when in form.

Kapp’s bowling has not been her best in recent times but it seems that her hard work in the nets is paying off, and she can be seen hitting the deck hard for the Capitals in the remainder of the tournament.
With all six teams having played two matches each, it is the Royal Challengers that are on top of the table with 4-points, followed closely by Mumbai Indians with just net run-rate separating the top two teams. Delhi Capitals are in third with 2-points, whilst UP Warriors and Gujarat Titans are yet to get points on the board.
We have yet to see Chloe Tryon (Mumbai Indians), Laura Wolvaardt (Gujarat Titans) and Nadine de Klerk (Royal Challengers Bangalore) out on the field, but with 14-matches left to play, we are sure in for a treat as the TATA Women’s Premier League takes centre stage until 17 March.
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Main Photo Caption: Shabnim Ismail has been in sensational form for the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League T20 cricket tournament, in India. Photo: Shabnim Ismail on Instagram
Photo 2 Caption: World-class pace bowler Marizanne Kapp is hitting the deck hard for the Delhi Capitals, picking up wickets while maintaining a measly economy rate. Photo: Marizanne Kapp on Instagram