India Vs South Africa, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Wolvaardt, De Klerk Seal Proteas Win As Richa's Heroics Go In Vain

South Africa clinched a dramatic win over India by three wickets in their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 encounter at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, completing a chase of 252 runs with just seven balls to spare.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk played pivotal roles, leading the Proteas' chase of India's 251. Richa Ghosh's powerful 94 guided India to a competitive total, but South Africa ultimately overhauled the target, reaching the target after losing seven wickets in 48.5 overs, which boosted their position to fourth in the tournament standings.

Wolvaardt Shines For South Africa

South Africa's innings was propelled by their batters, as Wolvaardt scored 70 runs, Chloe Tryon contributed 49 runs, and de Klerk remained unbeaten with 84 runs off just 54 balls. Initially, South Africa faced challenges in their chase as half their batting line-up was dismissed before reaching 100 runs.

Pacer Kranti Gaud claimed opener Tazmin Brits for a duck with a stunning return catch, triggering a South African slide. Veterans Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, and Sinalo Jafta fell quickly, leaving South Africa struggling at 81 for five.

Wolvaardt then stabilised the innings. She shared a 51-run sixth-wicket partnership with Chloe Tryon. Wolvaardt reached her fifty in 81 balls, featuring some archetypal drives. However, Gaud returned to break this partnership. A searing yorker dismissed Wolvaardt, leaving South Africa at 142 for six and still needing 110 runs for victory.

Tryon and de Klerk forged a critical alliance, stitching together 69 runs for the seventh wicket. This partnership brought the Proteas closer to their target. De Klerk clobbered Gaud for two successive sixes, and the pair braved the variety in India's bowling attack.

South Africa needed 52 runs from the final five overs. De Klerk then showcased both prudence and power, expertly managing the ten-run-an-over situation. Her decisive innings ensured South Africa's hard-fought victory, sealing the win with a single run.

Richa Ghosh's Valiant Innings

Earlier, Richa Ghosh delivered an exceptional performance for India, scoring a brilliant 94 runs from 77 balls. Her innings included 11 fours and 4 sixes. Ghosh displayed excellent pacing and placement, arriving at the crease with India struggling at a marshy 102 for six.

Ghosh initiated India's recovery with Amanjot Kaur, adding 51 runs for the seventh wicket. Ghosh, a natural power-hitter, curtailed her instincts and reached her fifty in 53 balls, with two slog-swept sixes off Nadine de Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune providing some tempo. However, Kaur departed in her effort to up the scoring rate, pushing India back to 153 for seven.

Ghosh found another reliable partner in Sneh Rana (33). They forged an 88-run, 53-ball eighth-wicket stand. Rana's solid presence inspired Ghosh, who was dropped on 76 and 84, to open her shoulders more freely and put the SA attack to the sword in the latter part of her innings, scoring 44 runs off 24 balls.

A maiden ODI hundred was well within Ghosh's reach, but she fell in the final over while chasing some quick runs.

India's Batting Collapses

Ghosh had to dig deep after a now-familiar top-order snag hit India earlier. The ACA-VDCA Stadium pitch, perhaps the best among the three decks India had batted on – including Guwahati and Colombo – was not fully exploited after South Africa asked them to bat first.

The beginning was bright, as openers Pratika Rawal (37) and Smriti Mandhana (23) added 55 runs in 10.2 overs. A guarded Mandhana attempted to break the shackles with a towering straight six off pacer Ayabonga Khaka, but she perished soon to left-arm spinner Noku Mlaba.

Rawal and Harleen Deol (13) then took India to 83 for one, but Deol's dismissal sparked a collapse, leading to the hosts losing five wickets for just 19 runs. South African bowlers' nagging line and a hint of turn likely played a part, but Indian batters were also guilty of trying to force the pace.

Deol fell to a peach by Mlaba, as the ball squared her up with its outward turn. Rawal tried to push pacer Tumi Sekhukhune to the leg side, and Brits took the resulting leading edge.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur looked to play a booming drive off spinner Tryon, but another leading edge ended up in Kapp's hands. Jemimah Rodrigues missed a sweep against Tryon and fell leg before wicket, and Deepti Sharma was caught down the leg side, causing India to slip to 102 for six.

Catch all highlights for today's IND W vs SA W Match live score.

India Vs South Africa, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Toss Update

South Africa Women won the toss and elected to bowl first.

India Vs South Africa, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Playing XIs

India Women: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur

South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

India Vs South Africa, ICC Women's World Cup 2025 Scorecard

India Women 251 all out (49.5 ovs) – Richa Ghosh 94, Sneh Rana 33; Chloe Tryon 3/32, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/46.

South Africa Women 252/7 (48.5 ovs) – Nadine de Klerk 84*, Laura Wolvaardt 70; Sneh Rana 2/47, Kranti Gaud 2/59.

India Vs South Africa, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Squads

South Africa Women Squad: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Karabo Meso, Annerie Dercksen

India Women Squad: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh(w), Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav