South Africa, Sixers stars get hitched

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk and fast-bowling allrounder Marizanne Kapp have tied the knot, the international and Big Bash teammates saying ‘I do’ on Saturday.

The pair, who recently returned home following an ODI and T20 tour of the United Kingdom, celebrated their wedding with close friends, family and Proteas teammates at home in South Africa.

Afterwards, Kapp took to social media to share the happy news.

The duo, who both play for Sydney Sixers in the Rebel WBBL, made their international debuts within two days of each other during the 2009 Women’s World Cup, with van Niekerk capped for the first time aged just 16 against West Indies on March 8, before Kapp joined her on March 10 against Australia.

Spin-bowling allrounder Van Niekerk, 25, is the reigning Cricket South Africa women’s player of the year and is already her country’s highest ever ODI wicket taker, with 125 wickets from 95 matches at 18.86. Kapp, 28, is third on the list with 99 at 24.84.

Kapp and van Niekerk have both played crucial roles in taking Sydney Sixers to back-to-back Women’s Big Bash titles. In three seasons in magenta, Kapp has taken 40 scalps, while van Niekerk – who played for the Renegades in WBBL|01 before jumping ship to the Sixers – has snared 36 in two summers.

The South Africans aren’t the only current international and WBBL teammates to have tied the knot – New Zealand and Melbourne Renegades stars Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu married in March last year.