South Africa, Oct 10 : In a breathtaking encounter at the ICC Women’s World Cup, South Africa staged a sensational comeback to defeat India by three wickets with seven balls to spare in Match 10 on Thursday. The victory was powered by an unbeaten 84 from all rounder Nadine de Klerk, while skipper Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a patient 70.
Chasing India’s competitive total of 252, South Africa appeared in trouble at 142/6. However, a remarkable partnership between Chloe Tryon (49) and de Klerk turned the tide. De Klerk smashed five sixes and orchestrated a powerful finish, scoring the highest ODI score ever by a No.8 batter, helping her team reach 252/7 in 48.5 overs.
India had earlier set a challenging target, thanks to a sensational 94 from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who stitched vital partnerships with Amanjot Kaur (13) and Sneh Rana (33), propelling the hosts to 251 all out in 49.5 overs. Despite early breakthroughs from Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma, South Africa’s lower order held firm, turning the game around.
The match saw intense moments with mounting run rates and crucial wickets, including Wolvaardt being bowled by Gaud and Chloe Tryon dismissed for 49 in a tight DRS call. Yet, de Klerk’s fearless batting ensured South Africa notched their second win in the tournament, moving into the top four standings alongside India.
Brief Scores:
India: 251 all out in 49.5 overs (Richa Ghosh 94, Sneh Rana 33; Chloe Tryon 3-32, Nadine de Klerk 2-52)
South Africa: 252/7 in 48.5 overs (Nadine de Klerk 84*, Laura Wolvaardt 70; Kranti Gaud 2-59, Sneh Rana 2-47) South Africa won by 3 wickets
South Africa’s performance showcased a thrilling mix of resilience, power-hitting, and tactical batting, with de Klerk emerging as the standout performer of the day.