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- India vs South Africa Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: India suffer first defeat; Nadine de Klerk heroics hand South Africa 3-wicket win
India vs South Africa Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: India suffer first defeat; Nadine de Klerk heroics hand South Africa 3-wicket win
Opting to bat first, India started steadily through openers but faltered midway. After reaching 55 for no loss, they lost six wickets for just 47 runs, collapsing to 102 for six inside 26 overs. The early dismissals left India reeling, but Richa Ghosh stepped up in style. Displaying immense maturity and power, the wicketkeeper-batter unleashed a counter-attack that kept India alive. Her 77-ball knock, featuring 11 fours and four sixes, completely changed the tempo of the innings. She found brief support from Pratika Rawal (37) and Sneh Rana (33) as India scraped their way to 251 all out in 49.5 overs.
Chloe Tryon (3/32) was South Africa’s best bowler, maintaining pressure through the middle overs.
In response, South Africa’s chase revolved around captain Laura Wolvaardt, who played a composed knock of 70, ensuring stability up front. After her dismissal, Chloe Tryon’s brisk 49 kept the required rate in check. The real turnaround, however, came from de Klerk, who played a sensational match-winning innings under pressure. Her 84 not out off 54 balls, laced with five towering sixes and eight boundaries, sealed the game with seven balls to spare.
For India, Sneh Rana (2/47) and Deepti Sharma kept the contest alive briefly, but South Africa’s composure in the death overs proved decisive.
Despite Ghosh’s dazzling effort, India were left to rue their mid-innings collapse and inconsistent bowling. The defeat dents their campaign, while South Africa’s hard-fought win keeps their knockout hopes very much alive.champions Australia.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Gets away with it! A full toss down the leg side, Harmanpreet Kaur tries to place but ends up swiping it to short fine.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harmanpreet Kaur, Floated, full and on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur defends it on the front foot.
- Pratika Rawal 36 (51)
- Harmanpreet Kaur 1 (3)
Tumi Sekhukhune to Pratika Rawal, Length again, on off, Pratika Rawal pats it to short covers.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Pratika Rawal, Good length and on middle, angling in, Pratika Rawal keeps it out well.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pitched up and on the pads, Harmanpreet Kaur clips it to fine leg for a run and gets off the mark.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Harmanpreet Kaur, On a length and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to covers.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Harmanpreet Kaur, Touch fuller and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur blocks it out towards short covers.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Pratika Rawal, Back of a length and outside off, Pratika Rawal cuts it to deep point for a single.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur comes out to the middle now. Also, Tumi Sekhukhune has been introduced into the attack.
- Harleen Deol 13 (23)
- Pratika Rawal 35 (48)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, OUT! BOWLED! Wow...that is an absolute beauty from Nonkululeko Mlaba! She gives this one some more air, full and around middle and leg, gets it to grip and turn away sharply. Harleen Deol prods forward to block but fails to read the turn as the ball goes past the outside edge and rattles the off pole. Deol is stunned but has to walk back now for 13 off 23. Mlaba waves goodbye at her, and India are two down now.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Quicker, full and on off, Pratika Rawal drills it to long off for one.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Flatter, full and around leg, Pratika Rawal paddles it to short fine. She wants the run but is sent back.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Flighted, full and on off, Pratika Rawal knocks it to mid off.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Tossed up, full and on off, Pratika Rawal drives it through covers for a brace.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, FIVE WIDES! Free runs for India Women, and Laura Wolvaardt is not happy at all. Nonkululeko Mlaba fires this one down the leg side, Pratika Rawal misses her swipe, and Sinalo Jafta also fails to stop it as it rolls to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Short and on middle, Harleen Deol clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.
- Harleen Deol 12 (21)
- Pratika Rawal 32 (44)
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Short of a length and outside off, Harleen Deol cuts it to deep point for one.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Nice change of pace! Pitched up, full and on off, takes all the pace off, Harleen Deol almost gets deceived but manages to tap it to short covers.
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, Fuller and on off, Pratika Rawal drives it through covers for a run.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Good length and around off, Harleen Deol opens the face of her bat and guides it to third man for a single.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Back of a length and on off, Harleen Deol dabs it towards short covers.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, On a length and on middle, angling in, Harleen Deol tucks it to short mid-wicket.
DRINKS! The first ten overs belonged to India Women as they posted their highest Powerplay score in this World Cup. However, since the departure of Smriti Mandhana, the run-scoring has been a bit slow, and they are trying to rebuild. South Africa Women have done well to keep things a bit quiet in the last few overs but will be eying to get a wicket or two more and keep the pressure on the hosts. An interesting phase of cricket awaits us.
- Pratika Rawal 31 (43)
- Harleen Deol 10 (16)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Quicker one, full and on middle, skids through. Pratika Rawal plays it from the crease but gets a bit hurried and just about stabs it out to short covers. Mlaba is looking in fine rhythm here.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Slower through the air, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal knocks it back to the bowler.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Tossed up, full and on middle, Pratika Rawal defends it on the front foot.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Flighted, full and on middle, Harleen Deol eases it to long on for a run.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Short again and on middle, Harleen Deol stays back and nudges it to mid-wicket.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Floated, short and on off, turns away, Pratika Rawal moves back and swats it to long on for a single.
- Harleen Deol 9 (14)
- Pratika Rawal 30 (39)
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, FOUR! Fine shot! Nadine De Klerk keeps the length short but gives a bit of width outside off, Harleen Deol gets the chance to free her arms and crunches it past point for a cracking boundary.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Short of a length and outside off, Harleen Deol cuts it to cover-point.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, BEATEN! Hits the length hard and just around off, shapes away with some extra bounce. Harleen Deol tries to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. Good take from Sinalo Jafta behind the stumps as she is standing up to the stumps.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Touch fuller and slower too, sticks to the surface a bit, Harleen Deol mistimes her drive towards short covers.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Good-length delivery, on off, Harleen Deol gets behind the line of it and pats it to short covers.
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, Back of a length and on off, Pratika Rawal punches it to sweeper covers for a single.
- Harleen Deol 5 (9)
- Pratika Rawal 29 (38)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Loops it up, full and on leg, Harleen Deol knocks it down the pitch to the right of the bowler.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in, Harleen Deol looks to defend with a straight bat but get an inside edge towards square leg.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Short again and around off, Harleen Deol punches it wide of covers, where the fielder moves quickly and dives to her right to stop it well.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Drags her length back, on middle, Pratika Rawal nudges it towards square leg for a run.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, WIDE! Flatter, full but down the leg side, Pratika Rawal goes down to swipe it away but misses and loses her balance too. Wided.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, Tossed up, full and on off, Pratika Rawal pushes it to short covers.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Nicely bowled! She floats it up, short and on middle, turns away a bit, Harleen Deol gets squared up as the ball goes off the leading edge towards point for a single.
- Pratika Rawal 28 (36)
- Harleen Deol 4 (5)
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, Pulls her length back a bit, outside off, Pratika Rawal leaves it alone. A couple of quiet overs from South Africa Women!
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, Touch fuller and on middle and off, Pratika Rawal drives it to mid off.
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, Good length and on middle, angling in, Pratika Rawal pats it down to mid on.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Back of a length and on off, Harleen Deol steers it wide of point, where the fielder dives to her left to make a fine stop. They cross.
Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Hits the length hard and on the sixth stump line, Harleen Deol stays back and stabs it out to the off side.
Nadine De Klerk to Pratika Rawal, On a length and on off, Pratika Rawal pushes it through covers for a single.
- Pratika Rawal 27 (32)
- Harleen Deol 3 (3)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Pratika Rawal, A bit short and on the pads, Pratika Rawal clips it through square leg for one. Just 4 runs and a big wicket from Mlaba's first over.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Harleen Deol, Slows it up, full and on midde and leg, Harleen Deol eases it to long on for a single.
India, sent in to bat, were cruising at 55 without loss before suffering a collapse that saw them slump to 102 for six by the 26th over. Just when South Africa appeared in full control, Ghosh counter-attacked brilliantly, striking 11 fours and four sixes to single-handedly revive the innings. Her aggressive 94, supported briefly by Pratika Rawal (37) and Sneh Rana (33), pushed India to a competitive 251 all out in 49.5 overs.
In reply, Wolvaardt anchored the chase with patience before Chloe Tryon’s 49 accelerated the scoring. When India clawed back with quick wickets, de Klerk took charge, smashing five sixes and eight boundaries to see her side home in 48.5 overs at 252 for seven.
For India, Rana was the most effective bowler with 2/47, but the attack struggled to contain South Africa’s late onslaught. Despite Ghosh’s fireworks, India’s middle-order collapse and lack of finishing touch with the ball cost them dearly.
Match Statistics
Venue
Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
