14 March - Tauranga - South Africa player Marizanne Kapp post-match press conference

Reporter: First of all, just wondering what the last half an hour has kind of been like for you, obviously with the player of the match performance and the over joy that you probably had after winning but watching you kind of on the sidelines there was almost like a sense of relief after you know being dismissed late on but not costing that the team at all and pulling through - what are your emotions like at the moment the last half an hour so?

Marizanne: Honestly, I was a bit annoyed with myself. I knew I probably should have finished that game. And I put a lot of pressure on the two batters that was in the middle. But look, they are experienced players. They played I think over 100 games and I backed them to take us to the end there.

Reporter: And you took your first five grand international cricket - how pleased are you that it paid off and got the team the wins?

Marizanne: Yeah, it finally came around and it happened in a big game for us as well. So I'm just really happy that I could contribute and step up today.

Reporter: In one of the recent, interviews Dane had said how, over the years, the growth from the inside for you has been massive. And at this point in your career, you believe you're one of the best in the world. Could you please throw some light from your point of view and how much you have grown over the years and where you are in your career right now?

Marizanne: I've played I think over 200 games for South Africa so I should be confident in my abilities. But now look, being with this team. Being able to represent my country in so many games - I think I just reached a point in my career where now I know what I'm capable of and, and I just have to back myself at the end of them. And if I do that I usually perform well.

Reporter: Congratulations Marizanne. Marizanne, I am just going to ask a quick Afrikaans question. Is it fair to say that the past three matches were centered around your bowlers? Is that how the tournament is going to be for your team, are you going to depend on the bowlers?

And also, did I hear correctly in your post-match media conference, that the team is not playing at their best yet?

Marizanne: Look, since I can remember our strongest suit was our bowling. I mean there are three of us that have been playing for South-Africa for a long time, you would think that we know what we are doing when we step onto the field. I think that is also one of the reasons why we have been doing so well the past few years, because of our batting being so good. We were a bit slow the past three matches, and I feel that we are nowhere near our best yet, especially with the call, and I think today will go a long way to give us a boost in the right direction.

Reporter: Congratulations for the win and the player of the match award - first time in 20 years beating England at the World Cup - in the broader spectrum of cricket – how big is this moment?

Marizanne: Look, we knew over the last 10 years that the core group of the squad is still together and this World Cup especially is what we've worked towards - the previous World Cup was – we were extremely disappointed with both our performances especially against England and we knew this time around, especially after beating them at the T20 World Cup that we have the team we are a good enough that we could we could do that today. And luckily it came off us.

Reporter: When you got out, you were obviously very disappointed and had a chat with Trisha Chetty and with Shabnim – what did you need to tell them at that point? And was there any kind of special advice you wanted to give?

Marizanne: First of all, I said sorry, I knew I was supposed to end the day for us. But I have a lot of confidence in the two of them. I told Trisha - like if I'm given out now, you take charge, you take the lead - we only need a run a ball and I’d back the both of you. And I said the same thing to Shabnim, just watch the ball and don't be scared.

Reporter: At the halfway stage, you mentioned that Masabata Klaas probably deserved the Pfeiffer and she was exceptional today. Just a word on her and also the same quartet – you, Shabnim, Klaas and Khaka - how do you complement each other and how do you feed off each other I suppose.

Marizanne: Yeah, I think over the years Klassy has been very unlucky not to have played as many games because it's very rare that you would play four frontlines seamers. But now that she's given the chance I think for the first time we see what she's capable of, and I think she's been absolutely brilliant for us. The first few games as well. She's taken crucial wickets for us. And it just was just so good to see her performing out there today.

And then again, if you look at the four of us, we are so different Shabi is real fast, Aya brings things in a little bit slower. And then Klaas is also - she's actually a nice place. So I think it has really helped that we've played for South Africa or we've been together for I think the past eight years. But we really enjoy each other's company.

Reporter: Jumping on to what Nathan was asking and partly what you responded to, especially dating back to the previous World Cup against England. Just how much of this win today is sort of fueling up the idea that actually this time around - we can go all the way and possibly even win this World Cup.

How much is that feeling after today's win sort of fueling up that idea?

Marizanne: Yeah like I said the first two games probably didn't show the type of wickets we can and want to play. Even today we scrapped the runs together and managed to get over the line. But we know the heart break we had in that previous World Cup and today we came with different plans. And luckily it paid off for us now. Hopefully, as from today, I believe this team is just going to get stronger and better as each game we go on.

Reporter: My question is to skippers that – how was your fielding like to group up the team up like during the COVID situations, like how you pushed the team to do well. Like you are in a bubble everything in the COVID protocols.

Marizanne: Covid has been in tough I'm not going to lie. It is tough because we had a tour just before this one. But look at the end of the day, we enjoy our cricket. This World Cup is something we prepared for for the last eight, nine years and we weren't going to let COVID stand in our way.

Reporter: This question has been asked but back home your biggest support on social media throughout this game was your wife Dane - anything for her that she's missing this World Cup and missing this win because she's supporting from back home on Twitter and also in the studio?

Marizanne: Look with Dane - I believe a lot of our performances we put in the last year- year and a half is because of her because she carried this team for a very long time and it's so sad that she's not here to enjoy this with us. I know she's our biggest supporter and I'm not going to lie she leaves a massive void not only skill wise, but just to have her around the group and I know she's back home cheering for us and this one was for her.

Reporter: Looking ahead now obviously you guys will celebrate the win today but you know you got New Zealand in a short turnaround. The home team and home conditions. Are you guys already looking ahead to that one and getting ready for another tough game on Thursday?

Marizanne: Honestly, I didn't even know who we were playing next – I just heard it a bit earlier. Because I feel like we're focusing on one game at a time. Luckily, not too long ago we toured New Zealand and played them in their conditions. We know what a good side they are. And like I said, I feel like this game will allow both the betting and bowling side of our team to come out with a lot of confidence going into the next game. So I'm confident we'll rock up and put up a good show. We know it's going to be tough, but we'll take it one game at a time.

Reporter: Do you think that having three close games, you know, in terms of just getting over the line, but I mean, the brand of cricket that was played as well. I mean, it's well said that you guys are still getting better. You think having three close games is prepared you guys for what the chock a block cricket that's coming up. I mean, as Ross also said, it's the next few games within - like very few days in between. You think it's prepared you enough to get you guys to play your best cricket just before you actually finish out the big games that are coming up?

Marizanne: Definitely - I think in the past those close games were the ones we actually lost. We were always on the losing side where now we know we have not fared our best cricket and we weren't happy with our performances at all. But look at the end of the day. It's not how you start the World Cup it's how you end it - so I feel like we're moving in the right direction and I feel like we'll probably peak at the right time.

Reporter: So, it's a 50 over game but often they come down to one or two moments and it's tight matches. For me just watching that hit for six just seemed to knock the stuffing out of England when you hit that ball for six. Please take us through that moment. And take us through that shot both in English and Afrikaans very quickly if you can please.

Marizanne: Honestly I just tried to be positive I struggled a bit against the left arm spinner and I knew the pace bowlers I was going to try and take them on - I am strong through throughout that region and arena I just played the shot and it went for six and – I’ll take it.

Reporter: My question to you is that chasing has been difficult at this tournament. In general, I mean all these despite wanting to chase and not being able to chase - so in that sense, how important was it to cross the finish line after opting to chase on a pitch where, you know, it could have been, it could have gone the other way. Just how important was it?

Marizanne: I feel like we just had a feeling this morning and last night that it would probably be best if we bowled first. Just to get out to give our batters that chance to chase because we know over the last year we've really chanced well. And when I was out in the middle and we needed probably about 80 runs. I just told the batters that if we can take it as deep as possible and not try and go too early. We'll get over the line because I felt like under lights. It was coming on really nicely. But yeah, you just have to have the batters in there and not go too early.

Reporter: Laura couldn’t convert her knock into a century yet again, But can you just talk about her innings today? Under Pressure?

Marizanne: Honestly, She is a really good kid, Whether she scores 100 or not. She's been performing brilliantly for us. I'll take a 70 every single game of her anytime. I know she's disappointed with us off because she wanted to see us through. I believe a big scores just around the corner. And look, she's been so consistent and amazing to this lineup and yet again tonight on the pressure - she performed.