South Africa triumphed over India in a thrilling three-wicket victory during the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, despite Richa Ghosh’s impressive 94. The collective effort from Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine
de Klerk led South Africa to overhaul India’s 251, reaching 252 for seven in 48.5 overs.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt scored 70, Chloe Tryon made 49, and Nadine de Klerk remained unbeaten with 84 off 54 balls. Their performances lifted South Africa to fourth position on the table.
Women’s World Cup 2025: India Vs South Africa – Highlights
South Africa’s chase seemed precarious when half their batting lineup returned to the pavilion with less than 100 runs on the board. Pacer Kranti Gaud’s stunning return catch dismissed opener Tazmin Brits for a duck, triggering the slide. Veteran players Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, and Sinalo Jafta did not last long, bringing the score to 81 for five.
Wolvaardt steadied the innings by adding 51 runs for the sixth wicket with Chloe Tryon. She played some classic drives to reach her fifty in 81 balls, but Gaud returned to break the partnership with a searing yorker that bowled Wolvaardt.
At 142 for six, South Africa still needed 110 runs to win. Tryon and De Klerk faced the varied Indian attack, forming a 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket. This alliance brought them closer to the target. The visitors needed 52 runs off the last five overs, which they managed through De Klerk’s prudence and power.
Earlier, Richa Ghosh demonstrated remarkable skill in her innings, scoring 94 off 77 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes). She paced her innings well after walking in at a precarious 102 for six. Ghosh initially added 51 runs for the seventh wicket with Amanjot Kaur, curtailing her aggressive instincts to reach fifty in 53 balls. She hit two slog-swept sixes off Nadine de Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune to increase the tempo.
Kaur departed while trying to accelerate the score, leaving India at 153 for seven. Ghosh then found support in Sneh Rana (33), and together they added 88 runs for the eighth wicket off 53 balls. Rana’s solid presence inspired Ghosh, who was dropped twice on 76 and 84, to play more aggressively and score 44 runs in the last 24 balls of her innings. A maiden ODI hundred was within reach, but Ghosh fell in the final over.
India’s top-order struggles continued on a pitch that was arguably the best among the three they had batted on (Guwahati, Colombo, and ACA-VDCA Stadium). Despite being asked to bat first, they failed to exploit the conditions fully. Openers Pratika Rawal (37) and Smriti Mandhana (23) made a bright start, adding 55 runs in 10.2 overs.
Mandhana attempted to break free with a towering six off pacer Ayabonga Khaka but soon fell to left-arm spinner Noku Mlaba. Rawal and Harleen Deol (13) took India to 83 for one, but Deol’s dismissal sparked a collapse, with five wickets falling for just 19 runs. The nagging line and subtle turn from South African bowlers contributed, but Indian batters also struggled to force the pace.
Deol was dismissed by a peach from Mlaba, while Rawal’s attempt to push Tumi Sekhkhune to the leg-side resulted in a leading edge caught by Brits. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s booming drive off spinner Tryon ended in another leading edge caught by Kapp. Jemimah Rodrigues missed a sweep against Tryon and was out leg before, and Deepti Sharma was caught down the leg side as India slipped to 102 for six.
Brief Scores:
India 251 all out in 49.5 overs (Pratika Rawal 37, Richa Ghosh 94, Sneh Rana 33; Chloe Tyron 3/32).
South Africa: 252 for 7 in 48.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 70, Chloe Tryon 49, Nadine de Klerk 84 not out; Sneh Rana 2/47).
(With inputs from PTI)
