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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.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, DROPPED AGAIN! Not an easy one though! Short of a length and on middle, Richa Ghosh pulls it flay and aerially towards deep mid-wicket. Anneke Bosch dives forward to grab it but the ball dies down on her and she fails to grab it. They cross.
Marizanne Kapp to Sneh Rana, Back of a length and on middle, Sneh Rana backs away and steers it to backward point for a run.
Marizanne Kapp to Sneh Rana, FOUR! JUST WIDE! Sinalo Jafta could have done better! Good length and on off, Sneh Rana backs away to push it away but gets an outside edge behind, Jafta is late to dive to her right and the ball flies past her right glove to the fence for another boundary. Kapp is not happy at all!
Marizanne Kapp to Sneh Rana, FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Fuller and on off, Sneh Rana looks to whip it away but the ball catches the leading edge and goes over the keeper to the third man fence for a boundary.
- Richa Ghosh 83 (72)
- Sneh Rana 24 (20)
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Pitched up but down the leg, Richa Ghosh flicks it straight to short fine. Sneh Rana wants the run but is sent back. 28 runs in the last two overs!
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, SIX! Wow..that is some clean striking! Touch fuller and on off, Richa Ghosh stays back in her crease, picks up the length and dispatches it over the long off fence for half a dozen more.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Hard length and outside off, keeps a bit low, Richa Ghosh swings hard at it but misses.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Sneh Rana, Loopy slower one, on middle, Sneh Rana comes down the track, takes it on the full and thumps it over the bowler's head. Tumi Sekhukhune leaps up and just gets her right hand on it to take the sting out of the ball giving the fielders in the deep the chance to stop it. They cross.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, DROPPED! Everything going Richa Ghosh's way now! Pitched up and on middle, Richa Ghosh lofts it down the ground but mistimes it. Nadine De Klerk runs forward and dives to grab it but fails to hold on to it. Just one!
Tumi Sekhukhune to Sneh Rana, Fuller and around off, Sneh Rana uses her feet and drags it to long on for a single.
- Richa Ghosh 76 (68)
- Sneh Rana 22 (18)
Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, SIX! BOOM! You cannot bowl those to her! Another full toss around off, Richa Ghosh waits for it and pumps it over the long off fence for a biggie. 19 runs off the over!
Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, FOUR MORE! Nothing can stop Richa Ghosh it seems! Pitched up and well outside off again, Ghosh throws the kitchen sink at it. She slices it behind the deep point fielder this time for a four more runs.
Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Up and over! Goes fuller and just outside off, Richa Ghosh extends her arms to get under it and carves it away wide of deep point for a blazing boundary.
Ayabonga Khaka to Richa Ghosh, Good bowling! Ayabonga Khaka gets the wide yorker right, outside off, Richa Ghosh throws her bat at it but misses.
Ayabonga Khaka to Sneh Rana, Back of a length and outside off, Sneh Rana moves across and cuts it to deep point for a single.
Ayabonga Khaka to Sneh Rana, FOUR! The runs are flowing now! A juicy full toss, on off, Sneh Rana does not miss out and thumps it over and wide of mid off for a boundary.
Just a bit of a break as the batters are getting some fluids in. Also, Ayabonga Khaka (6-0-28-0) comes back into the attack now.
- Sneh Rana 17 (16)
- Richa Ghosh 62 (64)
Marizanne Kapp to Sneh Rana, Low full toss, on middle, Sneh Rana heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run. That also brings up the 50-RUN STAND between these two batters in quick time.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, Fuller and on middle, Richa Ghosh drives it wide of mid off for a single.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! 200 UP FOR INDIA! Hits the length hard and on off, does not bounce that much, Richa Ghosh is expecting that length. She waits for it and slaps it over extra covers for a boundary.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, Swing and a miss! Short of a length and around off, gets some extra bounce, Richa Ghosh swings her bat like a tennis racket but fails to connect.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes pace off, Richa Ghosh tries to hook it away but goes through it early and gets hit on the back.
Marizanne Kapp to Richa Ghosh, Back of a length and outside off, Richa Ghosh cuts it to point.
- Richa Ghosh 57 (59)
- Sneh Rana 16 (15)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Lands it on off, Richa Ghosh taps it to the left of the bowler for a single.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Gets it over backward point! Fuller, outside off, Richa Ghosh gets low and plays a reverse sweep over the leaping backward point fielder for a magnificent boundary.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Flatter, on leg, Richa Ghosh sweeps it to the fielder at backward point.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Lands it outside off, Richa Ghosh chips it over extra covers for a brace.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Short, on off, Richa Ghosh pushes it to mid off.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Turn and bounce, on middle, Richa Ghosh looks to flick it but miscues it to point. Nonkululeko Mlaba was interested but Marizanne Kapp reckons that it was her bat. The reply later shows that it was her glove. Good decision not to review it.
- Sneh Rana 16 (15)
- Richa Ghosh 50 (53)
Nadine De Klerk to Sneh Rana, Hard length, outside off, Sneh Rana leaves it alone hoping for a wide. Dot ball.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Fifty up for Richa Ghosh! On a length, on off, Richa Ghosh slaps it to cover for one. Her seventh fifty and her first in the World Cup!
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Wide! Pressure on the bowler. Wayward, outside off, Richa Ghosh leaves.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Richa Ghosh moves to 49 now! On a length, outside off, Richa Ghosh tries to loft it but gets a thick edge as the ball goes through short third for a boundary.
Nadine De Klerk to Sneh Rana, Hard length, on off, Sneh Rana punches it to cover for one.
Nadine De Klerk to Sneh Rana, FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for India Women! Down the leg side, Sneh Rana looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to collect it as the ball races away.
Nadine De Klerk to Sneh Rana, FOUR! Excellent from Sneh Rana! Much fuller, on middle and leg, Sneh Rana gets low and paddles it fine past the diving short fine fielder for a magnificent boundary.
Nadine De Klerk to Sneh Rana, Much fuller, on off, Sneh Rana pushes it to mid off.
- Sneh Rana 11 (11)
- Richa Ghosh 45 (51)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Short, on middle, Sneh Rana punches it to cover for one.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Keeps it full, on middle, Sneh Rana gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a brace.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Too full, on off, Sneh Rana blocks it back to the bowler.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Short, on off, Sneh Rana taps it to the cover fielder.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, FOUR MORE! A bit streaky this time! Fuller, outside off, turning away. Sneh Rana looks to block it but gets a thick outside edge as the ball races through short third for a boundary.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, FOUR! Finds the gap! Short, just outside off, Sneh Rana stays in her crease and slaps it powerfully through covers for a boundary.
- Richa Ghosh 45 (51)
- Sneh Rana 0 (5)
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Slower one, outside off, Richa Ghosh tries to slap it but misses.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Wide! Wayward, outside off, Richa Ghosh leaves. Wided.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Too full, on off, Richa Ghosh digs it to cover.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, SIX! That goes all the way! A half tracker that sits up to be hit, Richa Ghosh winds up and clatters it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. She moves to 45 now.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Much fuller, on off, Richa Ghosh eases it to cover.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, Slower one, outside off, Richa Ghosh tries to play at it but misses.
Nadine De Klerk to Richa Ghosh, A full toss, outside off, Richa Ghosh chips it over point for a brace.
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
