De Klerk’s blistering knock powers South Africa to win over India

Nadine de Klerk emerged as the hero as South Africa pulled off a stunning three-wicket win over India in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 on Thursday. The result gave South Africa their second consecutive victory while India suffered their first defeat of the tournament.

After South Africa won the toss and opted to field, Richa Ghosh's 94 helped India post a respectable 251. While defending the target, India struck with regular wickets early on to keep control of the game. But de Klerk kept South Africa in the hunt with a unbeaten 84 off 54 balls, an innings laced with eight fours and five sixes and her knock proved decisive after the Proteas had slipped to 142/6.

Alongside de Klerk, Wolvaardt (70) and Chloe Tryon (49) made vital contributions to help South Africa pull off one of the finest chases in Women's World Cup history. For India, Kranti Goud and Sneh Rana picked up two wickets each while Amanjot Kaur, Nallapureddy Charani and Deepti Sharma chipped in with one apiece.

However, de Klerk's explosive batting ultimately halted India's charge and sealed a memorable win for the Proteas.

India maintained control early on, striking at regular intervals to leave South Africa reeling at 81/5. However, Wolvaardt and Tryon steadied the innings with a 59-run partnership, easing the pressure and keeping their side in the contest.

What followed was the de Klerk show. Displaying remarkable composure and power hitting under pressure, she took charge of the chase. Even as the required run rate climbed, de Klerk found boundaries at crucial moments, denying India any momentum in the final overs.

Earlier, India's bowlers kept South Africa under constant pressure. After Sneh Rana dismissed Marizanne Kapp, Deepti Sharma struck in the very next over with her first delivery, taking a sharp return catch to remove Anneke Bosch. Nallapureddy Charani then trapped Sinalo Jafta LBW, reducing South Africa to half their side down.

The hosts had also made a perfect start by striking twice early in the innings. Kranti Goud provided the first breakthrough, removing Tazmin Brits before Amanjot Kaur added to the pressure with the wicket of Sune Luus.

In the first innings, Richa Ghosh played a brilliant knock of 94 to help India post a respectable total of 251. Coming in at No 8, Ghosh lifted India past the 250 mark after they had slipped to 102/6 at one stage.

Sneh Rana provided valuable support with a crucial cameo, adding 88 runs alongside Ghosh to revive the innings before India lost quick wickets in the final overs to be bowled out.

Chloe Tryon (3/32) did most of the damage for South Africa, while Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba chipped in with two wickets each. Tumi Sekhukhune also contributed with a wicket, dismissing Pratika Rawal.

Ghosh, who fell just six runs short of a century, was dismissed in the final over after being caught at long on while attempting to hit a high full toss from de Klerk. Earlier, she had also shared a crucial partnership with Amanjot Kaur, which was broken by Tryon during the last ball of her spell.

Their duo put together a 50-run stand, the first of the innings, to help India recover from an early collapse that saw them being reduced to 102/6 after they had been cruising at 83/1.

Deepti Sharma was caught behind off Marizanne Kapp as India's collapse deepened, having lost wickets in consecutive overs. Before Kapp claimed her first wicket of the evening, Chloe Tryon had added to the damage by dismissing Harmanpreet Kaur and sending half of India's side back to the pavilion.

Earlier, Tumi Sekhukhune had caused trouble by removing Pratika Rawal. Tryon then struck in the very next over, sending Jemimah Rodrigues back for a duck.

Nonkululeko Mlaba also provided South Africa with two crucial breakthroughs, dismissing India opener Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol. The left-arm spinner struck in her very first over, with Mandhana caught at long on. Mlaba then dismissed Deol, who was beaten by the turn and got bowled out.

A wet outfield in Visakhapatnam delayed the proceedings for a power-packed India and South Africa clash. However, India openers Mandhana and Pratika Rawal got them off to a steady start. Rawal got off the mark with a flick down fine leg off Marizanne Kapp's first delivery, and followed it up with another boundary in the over.

Meanwhile, Mandhana got in on the act by unleashing the opening maximum of the game off Ayabonga Khaka in the eighth over. The straight six down the ground saw her breach past Belinda Clark's tally for most Women's ODI runs in a calendar year (970).

Earlier, Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt had won the toss and elected to field at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium.

The match was delayed by an hour and began at 4:00 PM IST without any loss in the number of overs for the high-octane contest.

Hosts India arrive into the game with wins in both of their games so far against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Meanwhile South Africa bounced back against New Zealand in their previous fixture after suffering a mammoth loss at the hands of England in their opener.

Deepti Sharma has been India's standout so far with a half-century against Sri Lanka and three wickets apiece against both the opponents so far.

The Proteas were dominated by England in their opening clash of the tournament, being bowled out for just 69 runs but returned strongly against White Ferns, with Tazmin Brits' 101 and Sune Luus' unbeaten 83 paving the way for a six-wicket win.