South Africa completed a remarkable comeback to defeat India for the first time in the Women’s ODI World Cup, thanks to an extraordinary innings from Nadine de Klerk. India had posted a respectable 251, with Richa Ghosh leading the charge with 94 and Sneh Rana adding a vital unbeaten 33. But de Klerk’s blistering, undefeated 84 off 54 balls proved to be the difference, enabling South Africa to chase down the target in a stunning finish.
The match, played in Visakhapatnam, saw India in a dominant position for much of the game. South Africa, while chasing 252, were reeling at 142 for six, indicating a likely Indian victory. Earlier, India had also experienced batting difficulties, with wickets falling at intervals. The rescue act came from Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana, who combined for the fourth-highest partnership in women’s ODI history for India, guiding their team to a fighting total of 251. With Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana picking up two wickets each, the score seemed well within reach of a defendable total, particularly before the final power-packed overs.
Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 70 provided a solid foundation for the South African chase, maintaining momentum despite the loss of wickets. Chloe Tyron’s contribution of 49 runs kept the chase alive. However, the decisive blows came from Nadine de Klerk. Unperturbed by the pressure, she launched an onslaught of boundaries, finishing on an unbeaten 84. Her aggressive display overwhelmed the Indian bowling attack in the death overs, securing a memorable win for her team. Reports suggest the pitch played significantly better towards the end, a condition India had already benefited from during their innings but failed to manage effectively in their bowling strategy.