South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk delivered one of the most memorable performances of the Women’s World Cup 2025, producing a stunning lower-order masterclass with an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls to lead her side to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
Coming in at number eight, De Klerk’s extraordinary innings transformed the match as she combined sheer power with elegant timing to guide South Africa past India’s total of 251 with seven balls to spare. Her explosive knock featured eight boundaries and five towering sixes, including the match-winning hit over midwicket that sealed South Africa’s first-ever World Cup win against India on Indian soil.
“I’m lost for words,” said De Klerk after the win. “We’ve worked hard these past few days, but to finish off a game like this gives us real confidence. I love the pressure of World Cups — we had to be at our best to beat India at home.”
South Africa’s chase had earlier wobbled at 81-5, but captain Laura Wolvaardt’s steady 70 kept them alive before De Klerk joined Chloe Tryon for a 69-run partnership that turned the contest around. Tryon’s quickfire 49 provided the perfect support as the duo dismantled India’s bowling attack under immense pressure.
India, who struggled against left-arm spin throughout the tournament, suffered another top-order collapse after Nonkululeko Mlaba and Tryon dismantled their batting lineup. At one stage, India slumped to 102-6, unable to handle South Africa’s disciplined attack.
However, Richa Ghosh once again showcased her grit and power, scoring 94 off 82 balls to rescue India’s innings. Partnering with Sneh Rana (33 off 24), she stitched an 88-run stand for the eighth wicket, pushing India to a respectable total.
Despite the fighting spirit, India’s bowling attack couldn’t contain De Klerk’s counterattack in the final overs. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised both teams, saying, “It was a tough game — we batted below our potential but still reached 250. De Klerk batted brilliantly to take it away. It’s a long tournament, and we’ll take the positives and learn from this.”
The victory not only lifted South Africa’s morale but also kept their semi-final hopes alive, while India will now need to regroup ahead of their remaining fixtures.
