South Africa Defeat India by 3 Wickets in Women’s World Cup

South Africa defeated India by three wickets in a thrilling ICC Women’s World Cup match held in Visakhapatnam. Chasing a target of 252 runs, the South African women’s team completed the victory with seven balls to spare, led by a match-winning unbeaten 84-run innings from Nadine de Klerk.

De Klerk, coming in under mounting pressure, played one of the finest knocks of the tournament. Her 84 not out off just 54 deliveries turned the tide in South Africa’s favour after a top-order collapse had left them reeling. Her calm approach and aggressive shot selection proved decisive in one of the most thrilling matches of the World Cup so far.

Nadine de Klerk does it for South Africa as they defeat hosts India in a contest that went down to the wire in Visakhapatnam 🔥#CWC25 #INDvSA 📝: https://t.co/c02eALsp23 pic.twitter.com/ydYnI7LVP6

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 9, 2025

Batting first, India began strongly with their openers building a steady 55-run stand. However, South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack soon took control, triggering a middle-order collapse that saw India slip to 102 for six.

Richa Ghosh anchored the innings with an impressive 94 off 77 balls, showcasing both resilience and attacking flair. She was well supported by Sneh Rana, who added 33 runs, helping India recover to a respectable total. Nevertheless, the team was bowled out for 251 in 49.5 overs a score that would eventually prove just short.

The chase began on a shaky note for South Africa, who lost two early wickets for just 18 runs. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt provided some stability with a gritty 70, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. When South Africa lost their fifth wicket at 81, the game looked firmly in India’s hands.

Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk then stitched together a vital partnership to rebuild the innings. Tryon contributed a crucial 49 before her dismissal left the final push on De Klerk’s shoulders. Rising to the occasion, De Klerk paced her innings superbly  mixing boundaries with intelligent strike rotation to take her team over the line in the 49th over.

Her unbeaten 84 under pressure not only sealed the three-wicket win but also underscored her value as one of South Africa’s most dependable finishers in white-ball cricket.