Relive the thrilling India vs South Africa Women’s World Cup match: India collapse, Richa Ghosh’s 94, de Klerk’s heroics, and what this means for the rivalry.
India Women vs South Africa Women: World Cup 2025 Thriller & Rivalry Insights
In a high-stakes match at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, South Africa Women stunned hosts India Women by 3 wickets thanks to a breathtaking 84 off 54 balls* by Nadine de Klerk.
he contest, held in Visakhapatnam at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, showcased dramatic shifts, heroic performances, and the intensity of the India–South Africa women’s cricket rivalry.
🏏 Match Recap: India’s Collapse & South Africa’s Revenge
India’s Innings:
- India looked steady early, with openers setting a base (≈ 55 for 0).
- But then a dramatic collapse saw the team tumble to 102/6, losing key wickets including Mandhana, Rodrigues, and captain Kaur.
- Enter Richa Ghosh, who played a blazing 94 off 77 balls, supported by a useful cameo from Sneh Rana (33 off 24). Together they pushed India to 251 all out in 49.5 overs.
South Africa’s Chase:
- The chase began disastrously: Tazmin Brits was out for a duck, and South Africa lost 5 wickets for just 81 runs.
- Captain Laura Wolvaardt steadied things with a composed 70 runs off 111 balls.
- But the game was slung in favor of SA by de Klerk, whose unbeaten assault sealed a spectacular triumph with 7 balls to spare.
- Chloe Tryon also played a vital support role in a 69-run partnership with de Klerk.
Bowling Highlights:
- For India, Sneh Rana (2/47) and Kranti Gaud (2/59) were among the few to make an impact.“Top Women’s Cricket Rivalries & Stats”
- South Africa’s Chloe Tryon picked up 3/32, applying further pressure on India.
The final scoreboard: South Africa 252/7 (48.5 overs) beat India 251 (49.5 overs). “Women’s World Cup 2025 – Full Schedule & Results”
📈 Context & Rivalry: India vs South Africa Women
- In ODIs overall, India Women lead the head-to-head, with more wins than South Africa.
- In Women’s World Cup matches specifically, encounters have been more balanced: out of 5 games, India won 3, South Africa 2.
- Earlier that year, India defeated South Africa by 23 runs in a Tri-Nation series in Sri Lanka.
- India’s women also famously set a record in Tests: in a match vs South Africa in 2024, they scored a massive 525 runs in a single day — the highest ever in women’s Test cricket for a day.
- Smriti Mandhana, India’s star batter, made headlines by breaking a 28-year record for most runs in a calendar year in women’s ODIs, during this match vs South Africa.
🔍 Key Takeaways & What’s Next
- India faltered under pressure — early collapse put them on the back foot, despite Ghosh’s brilliance.
- South Africa’s grit under fire — Wolvaardt’s composure and de Klerk’s explosion were match-defining.
- Depth matters — India’s lower order couldn’t support Ghosh’s effort; South Africa’s all-round strength showed.
- Momentum shift in group stage — this upset may tilt World Cup group dynamics.
- Player form to watch: Richa Ghosh, Mandhana (India); de Klerk, Tryon, Wolvaardt (South Africa).
India will look to bounce back in upcoming matches, while South Africa gains a huge boost in confidence moving ahead in the tournament.
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