South Africa achieved a remarkable victory against India in the Women’s ODI World Cup, stunning the Indian side in the closing overs. India had set a competitive target of 251, propelled by stellar performances from Richa Ghosh, who scored 94, and Sneh Rana, who contributed an unbeaten 33. However, a scintillating unbeaten 84 from Nadine de Klerk spearheaded a dramatic South African comeback, handing India their first defeat of the tournament.
Initially, the match in Visakhapatnam seemed firmly in India’s grasp. South Africa, chasing 252, found themselves in a precarious position at 142/6. The momentum was clearly with the Indian bowlers, who had taken regular wickets. Earlier, India too had struggled with wickets falling consistently until Ghosh and Rana forged a crucial partnership, the fourth-highest for India in women’s ODIs, to guide them to 251. This total was widely considered defendable, especially with effective spells from bowlers like Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana, who both claimed two wickets. Yet, the final ten overs proved to be the turning point.
Laura Wolvaardt had laid a solid foundation for the chase with a steady 70, keeping the scoreboard moving despite losing partners. Following her departure, Chloe Tyron continued the charge with a valuable 49. But it was Nadine de Klerk who ultimately sealed the deal for South Africa. Even after Tyron’s dismissal, de Klerk remained unfazed, smashing an extraordinary unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls, a performance filled with aggressive boundaries that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The Indian camp acknowledged that the pitch played better towards the end, a fact they themselves experienced during their batting innings but failed to adapt to during their bowling spell, ultimately leading to their first loss.