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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.
- Sneh Rana 0 (5)
- Richa Ghosh 37 (45)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Keeps it full again, on off, Sneh Rana blocks it to point.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Too full, on off, Sneh Rana taps it to the cover fielder.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Much fuller, on off, Sneh Rana leans on and blocks it to short cover.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Tossed up, on off, Sneh Rana blocks it to point again.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Sneh Rana, Short, on off, Sneh Rana punches it to point.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Back of a length and outside off, Richa Ghosh cuts it straight to point.
Sneh Rana walks out to bat now.
- Amanjot Kaur 13 (44)
- Richa Ghosh 36 (44)
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, OUT! TAKEN! Chloe Tryon ends her spell with a three-fer! She tosses it up, full and on off, turns away a bit. Amanjot Kaur comes down the track and tries to loft it over mid off. However, she does not quite get to the pitch of the ball, but still goes through the shot and mistimes it in the air. Sune Luus from mid off runs backwards, keeps her eyes on the ball, and takes a fantastic catch with both hands, tumbling on the ground. Kaur falls after a struggling 13 off 44, and India Women are seven down now.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Dragged back and outside off, Richa Ghosh slaps it wide of covers. Tumi Sekhukhune dives to her right and gets a hand but parries it in the deep. Just one!
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Short and around off, Amanjot Kaur punches it through covers for a run. That brings up the 50-RUN STAND between these two batters.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Floated, full and on middle, Amanjot Kaur uses her feet but yorks herself and jams it to mid off.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Flighted, full and on middle, Amanjot Kaur knocks it back to the bowler.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Quicker, full and on middle, Richa Ghosh works it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a single.
- Amanjot Kaur 12 (40)
- Richa Ghosh 34 (42)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, Flatter, full and on middle, angling in, Amanjot Kaur keeps it out on the pitch.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, BEAUTY! Floated, full and on off, turns away again, Amanjot Kaur has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge again.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, Oh..turn and bounce! Slows it up, full and on off, grips and turns away sharply, Amanjot Kaur withdraws her bat late as the ball goes past the outside edge.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, Flighted, full and on off, Amanjot Kaur square drives it to cover-point.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, Tossed up, full and on middle, Amanjot Kaur blocks it out.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Short and around off, Richa Ghosh pushes it through covers for a single. 150 up for India Women!
- Amanjot Kaur 12 (35)
- Richa Ghosh 33 (41)
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, FOUR! Deft touch! Pushed through quicker, shortish and around off. Amanjot Kaur lets the ball come to her, uses the pace and steers it away to the third man fence for a boundary. This stand is now worth 47 off 72.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Shorter in length, on leg, Richa Ghosh nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Flighted, full and on middle, Richa Ghosh defends it on the front foot.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Short again and around off, Amanjot Kaur slaps it to sweeper covers for a single.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Tossed up, full and on off, Amanjot Kaur strides out and taps it to short covers.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Floated, short and around off, Amanjot Kaur punches it to cover-point.
Change from both ends as Chloe Tryon replaces Tumi Sekhukhune. Two strike bowlers for South Africa Women are now into the attack.
- Richa Ghosh 32 (39)
- Amanjot Kaur 7 (31)
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Looped up, full and on off, Richa Ghosh taps it to short covers.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! Nicely done! Flatter, full but down the leg side, Richa Ghosh goes down and uses the pace of the ball to paddle it to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Slows it upl full and on off, Richa Ghosh keeps it out to the off side.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Amanjot Kaur, A full toss, on middle, Amanjot Kaur heaves it wide of mid-wicket. The fielder dives to her right and extends her left arm to make a fine stop. Just one.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Flighted, full and on fof, Richa Ghosh forces it to long off for a single.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Richa Ghosh, Tossed up, full and on off, Richa Ghosh pushes it to covers.
Nonkululeko Mlaba (5-0-20-2) is back on. Laura Wolvaardt wants to break this partnership as quickly as possible.
- Amanjot Kaur 6 (30)
- Richa Ghosh 27 (34)
Tumi Sekhukhune to Amanjot Kaur, Slower one, full and on middle, Amanjot Kaur drills it down the pitch. Tumi Sekhukhune on her follow-through, extends her right leg and makes a half-stop with her boot.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Amanjot Kaur, Another good yorker, on middle, Amanjot Kaur digs it out to the off side. She needs to get a move on now.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, A high full toss, on middle, Richa Ghosh fails to control and mistimes her lofted shot towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Fuller and on middle and off, Richa Ghosh drills it to mid off.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, Tumi Sekhukhune responds with a fine yoker, on middle, angling in, Richa Ghosh jams it out to mid off.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, SIX! BANG! That is what she can do! Fuller one and on middle, in the slot as well. Richa Ghosh clears her front leg away, goes down and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. The crowd loved that!
- Amanjot Kaur 6 (28)
- Richa Ghosh 20 (30)
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Slows it up, full and on off, Amanjot Kaur fends it away.
Chloe Tryon to Amanjot Kaur, Quicker, full and on leg, Amanjot Kaur turns it to the leg side.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Good fielding! Tossed up, full and on off, Richa Ghosh goes inside out and lofts it ove extra covers. Nadine De Klerk from long off runs to her left and makes a fine sliding stop. Just one. That is poor running, that should have been two runs.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Goes a bit short and outside off, keeps a bit low, Richa Ghosh cuts it to point.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Flighted, full and on middle and leg, Richa Ghosh blocks it out.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, WIDE! Floated, full and around leg, Richa Ghosh goes down to sweep but misses. Wided.
Chloe Tryon to Richa Ghosh, Fires in a yorker, on leg, Richa Ghosh tries to take it on the full and clips it away but misses and gets hit on the pads.
- Richa Ghosh 19 (26)
- Amanjot Kaur 6 (26)
Tumi Sekhukhune to Richa Ghosh, On a length and around leg, Richa Ghosh flicks it to deep square leg for one.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Amanjot Kaur, Touch slower, full and on middle, Amanjot Kaur clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Amanjot Kaur, Hard length and on off, Amanjot Kaur stays back and punches it to short covers.
Tumi Sekhukhune to Amanjot Kaur, Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Amanjot Kaur blocks it out on the pitch.
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
