Everyone can be more like Dane van Niekerk

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Having scored a tournament-best 259 runs, taken eight wickets, captained Oval Invincibles to a top-three finish in the group, through the Eliminator and then to a thoroughly impressive victory over the much-fancied Southern Brave in the final, captain Dane van Niekerk could have been like anyone else after clinching yet another major domestic title.

The South African was a bag of emotions after the Invincibles' 48-run victory at Lord's was confirmed after four wickets from her wife Marizanne Kapp. She sunk to her knees on the outfield as her teammates converged together on the square, unable to quite comprehend what had taken place.

After a lap of honour during which players were reunited with friends and family, Van Niekerk the leader returned. Instead of grabbing The Hundred trophy for herself, she passed on the responsibility to Alice Capsey, the 17-year-old whose breakthrough this summer is what this competition is all about.

No one would have disputed it if Van Niekerk had taken centre stage. But like her leadership in the middle, she saw the bigger picture. 

"The day I was asked to captain my country I had to sit and think about what kind of captain I want to be and what I want to live by as a captain when it comes to cricket," she explained of the decision. 

"I thought that I was going to lift trophies but it is not a trophy for me to lift. I didn't do all the work and that is how I feel about it. 

^{Alice Capsey, helped by Tash Farrant, lifted The Hundred trophy}

"It was a collective effort and I feel like the team deserves to lift it. I have no right to lift it before anyone else."

Having won the Women's Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers and the Kia Super League with Surrey Stars, this success represents another domestic triumph for Van Niekerk. At the home of cricket surrounded by a record 17,116 crowd, there is little doubt in the 28-year-old's mind that this sits among her greatest achievements.

"You don't really think about it or think that it will happen when you watch people playing at Lord's and having these special moments," she said. 

"One day when I retire I can say that I've won a trophy at Lord's, hopefully, that is not the only one. It has been incredible. A lot of emotions.

"It has been electric. It is amazing that when you take a wicket there are thousands of people cheering you on. You're so used to hearing 11 or 15 people on the side getting excited. But thousands of people spurs you on.

"It pushes you to places you don't think you can go. It is such an incredible feeling and is something that I will never forget."