Riding on Nadine de Klerk‘s blistering 54-ball 84, South Africa defeated India by three wickets in their Women’s World Cup clash in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.It was the first real nail-biter of this World Cup, and India ended up on the wrong side. There was elation and jubilation in the South African camp, while the Indian players were left distraught. Despite a hard fight, de Klerk’s special knock snatched the game away.Chasing 252, South Africa’s innings was bolstered by skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s 70, Chloe Tryon’s 49, and de Klerk’s match-winning blitz, featuring five sixes and eight fours from 54 balls. South Africa finished at 252/7 in 48.5 overs.
South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk, second left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a six to win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against India at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
The chase began dramatically when Kranti Gaud produced a brilliant delivery to dismiss in-form Tazmin Brits for a duck. Sune Luus didn’t last long either, and while Wolvaardt held one end, wickets kept tumbling. At 81/5, South Africa looked in trouble, but Tryon joined her skipper to rebuild the innings.They rotated the strike efficiently and handled the pressure, putting together a crucial partnership that revived South Africa’s hopes. When Gaud dismissed Wolvaardt, India seemed back in control. That’s when de Klerk took over, accelerating brilliantly as the required run rate climbed past eight and steering South Africa to victory with seven balls to spare.
South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a six to win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against India at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
“I am lost for words. To finish off the game gives us a lot of confidence,” said de Klerk, who was named Player of the Match. “I love being under pressure, and we had to be at our best to beat India at home. We needed a win like this to show our capability.”Earlier, Richa Ghosh had scored a brilliant 94 off 77 balls, reviving a faltering India innings and powering them to 251 all out in 49.5 overs. India had slipped from 55/0 to 102/6 in 26 overs, but Ghosh’s whirlwind knock, including 11 fours and four sixes, almost turned the tide.
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Brief ScoresIndia: 251 all out in 49.5 overs (Pratika Rawal 37, Richa Ghosh 94, Sneh Rana 33; Chloe Tryon 3/32)South Africa: 252/7 in 48.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 70, Chloe Tryon 49, Nadine de Klerk 84*; Sneh Rana 2/47)
