24 March - Wellington - South Africa player Marizanne Kapp post-match press conference
Reporter: How do you sum up the game today?
Marizanne Kapp: Today things probably didn’t go our way or that the game didn't happen or that we didn't complete it, so there's still a few things we would like to work on. But going forward we still have to focus on our game against India because we want to finish the group stages well and then we'll shift our focus to the semi final and also see who we are going to face in the semi final.
Reporter: I guess in some ways its quite nice that maybe the game didn't continue, but how are you guys feeling? I mean this is probably the most pressure the batting line up has been under through the tournament. And then also I suppose maybe looking at the extra bounce in that pitch were you quite looking forward to bowling?
Kapp: Yeah definitely, I think the fact that the wicket has been under covers from yesterday and got quite a bit of work today. But I feel like with myself and the recovery, we were still going to be able to get us to a respectable total, the way Ming she was hitting the ball today was absolutely brilliant to see. So I feel like it would have been a challenge for us to complete this 26 overs yes with the way we started - but I felt like we could still do it and then with our bowling attack on that wicket we always get excited as bowlers when you see the opposition bowlers, pace bowlers especially bowling the way they did on that wicket - I still walked into the change room and said I can't wait to see Shabnim bowl on it - Look it wasn't ideal. But now we shift our focus to India.
Reporter: How important is it that you have avoided Australia in the semis? I mean, you've just played them, you know what they're about? You know, do you think that that's the fortunate thing?
Kapp: Yes and no, look, the last game, it was the first time in five years that we played them. You can't look too much at previous records and stuff. I believe if everyone rocks up on the day, we'll be a force to be reckoned with. As I said, now we shift our focus to India and our semi final and then hopefully we'll face them again in the final.
Reporter: If India has to win to qualify to the top four, and if that doesn't happen, then that is in all likelihood that the repeat of 2017 might happen where you face again England - has that thought ever come across yet. Any kind of discussions on that?
Kapp: No, look, we’re just happy to have qualified today. And like I said, we shift our focus to our game against India. We still have a few things we would like to work on. And it doesn't matter who we come up against in the semi final. I feel like this time around, we will be better prepared.
Reporter: My question to you is what's been the conversations in the batting group? Generally, because we've had - We've seen Laura play really well, you've been in great nick. But the unit has not clicked as a group together - what's been discussed? How do you address this going forward? Is that like the main point of concern that's still remaining?
Kapp: Not really to be honest I almost feel a bit better after today because we have someone like Ming being out there in the middle today, she looked a million dollars so I'm really excited to see her play moving forward - now I felt like it was just one knock away for her and I believe she'll come good now as we move forward. And look, yes, you would ideally like everyone to contribute, but I mean, if that's not the case, Wolfie has been brilliant, Sune has been really good as well. Masabata and Chloe has had it and someone like Minxy as well. So I feel like It's coming together and hopefully we'll play our best cricket towards the end of tournament.
Reporter: Just if I could follow up one more. How I know it's still early days, but how are you going to approach the India game? Because technically, there is not much riding on you, for you on that match? Because you're not going to face Australia. You're already in the semi final. So how do you approach that as a team?
Kapp: I don't think there'll be too many changes or anything along that line because I believe momentum is really big moving into the last stages of the competition and you would like to have probably be - probably your players that's going to play in the semi finals wait out and have a ball - you'll like to have people being fresh, but I think if you would, if you're going to ask our bowlers if they would like to rest - they'll probably tell you no. So yeah, I don't know personally what's gonna happen. What selections gonna look like, but I believe we'll still go in with our strongest 11.
Reporter: Just to kind of follow up on what the was asked, Mignon hasn't had the best tournament so far but she did seem to strike some form in this game. You know, what kind of conversations were you having with her when you walked in, Because it seemed like the two of you were sharing a lot of laughs and it was like you know you were really enjoying yourself, so what were you chatting to her about?
Kapp: Look I've been playing with Mignon for a very long time, I know she's been struggling and I've been trying to support her in every way I can - just being out in the middle I just told her like - look being a bowler I know the wicket is probably going to be spicy and move around a bit and I saw there was extra bounce so I just told her to not play at the pace ball - if they're bowling in good areas leave them wait for them to bowl at the wickets, at you because that takes the slips and that catching points out of the game and we'll wait for them to come to us and as soon as we started doing that you saw she score freely. But yeah, I think it helps that we have such a good relationship I can share my thoughts with her and especially with me being out there most games batting, I just shared with her what's been working for me?
Reporter: After the Australia game, Meg Laning said that the number three position is the most critical in any batting lineup. It seems to be a real problem for you. Your guys record of who bats there - how are you guys coping with that and you bat at number three in T20 Cricket - is that possibly an option?
Kapp: Look we know it's tough with us losing someone like Dane - she leaves a lot of holes within this team, so we've tried our best to try and conquer that and get the best solution for that number three spot, we have struggled a bit with it I know but look it's a decision for the coaches, it's not up to me - yes I've batted there before but I am getting a bit older and I'm still a frontline bowler so that's my number one skill. But whatever the team needs on the day like I'm happy to do that. It's completely up to the selectors and the coaching staff.
Reporter: Hi, Marizanne. You must be very happy to be in the final, sorry, semi-final. It must be a huge relief.
Marizanne: Yes, look, before we arrived here, it was our main goal. Now we have one match left against India. We want to end well. Unfortunately, the match today did not go ahead, but we still have a few issues we want to work on. We are looking forward to our last game against India, and after the match our focus will shift to the semi-final, and also see who we will play against.
Reporter: Congratulations Marizanne. Just shortly, obviously in this competition you greatly rely on luck, would you say you were lucky today, given the circumstances in this match? And the second part of my question, as the English man would say: “We have to address the elephant in the room”, the team still have a few challenges to sort out regarding your batting, before the game with India.
Marizanne: Yes, look, I am going to be honest, today we were lucky. But, as I said before, I feel Minxy and myself, we were four wickets down, but we went six an over after ten overs, so I feel the way she and myself have been hitting the ball recently, especially how she hit the ball today, right in the middle, we could have easily gotten to 140/150, and I back our bowling a 100% on this pitch. So yes, we were challenged a bit today, I am not going to lie, but I feel that we had the best two people in the middle, and then we still have people like Chloe and Trish to come, so yes, it wasn’t ideal, but I feel that it was perhaps what we needed. We know that here and there we struggled a bit with batting this tournament, but I mean, we only have three matches left, so what we need is for three or four of our strongest players to stand up in those matches, and that can change things significantly for us.