Nadine de Klerk powered South Africa to a stunning three-wicket victory over hosts India at the ICC Women\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Klerk hit an unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls to power South Africa home in their chase of 252.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It had looked unlikely when India reduced their opponents to 81 for 5 inside 20 overs but impressive innings from captain Laura Wolvaardt (70), Chloe Tryon (49), and De Klerk completed a thrilling run chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India looked well-placed for victory having set South Africa 252 to win, with Richa Ghosh top-scoring with 94.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it ultimately proved not enough as the hosts fell to their first defeat of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a delay to the start, South Africa put India into bat, but the hosts made good headway and emerged from the powerplay unscathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Nonkululeko Mlaba\u2019s arrival into the attack saw her continue her fine form with a wicket from her second ball as Smriti Mandhana departed for 23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things got even better for Mlaba, as she bowled Harleen Deol with a beautiful turning delivery to leave India 83 for two in the 17th over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pratika Rawal was not able to reap the rewards her patient work had set up for her as she was caught on 37 for Tumi Sekhukhune\u2019s first World Cup wicket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five balls later, Jemimah Rodrigues was given out LBW off Chloe Tryon to see India slip to 92 for four, and they were plunged deeper into trouble when captain Harmanpreet Kaur became Tryon\u2019s second wicket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, as Deepti Sharma returned to the dugout, India had lost four wickets for just 19 runs and with Kapp having claimed a dismissal, South Africa were fully fired up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghosh led the rebuild for India before playing calmly before unleashing a 75m six to tip the momentum her way, only for Tryon to get her third wicket as Amanjot Kaur rushed a shot and was caught by Sune Luus, to end the partnership at 51 runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The right-hander remained at the crease as she powered her way to her first World Cup fifty, coming in 53 balls and then she and Sneh Rana chose the 47th over to go nuclear, taking 19 from Ayabonga Khaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pressure was telling on South as Ghosh was dropped on 76 and 84, and relief finally came with an easy catch for Wolvaardt to dismiss Rana for 33 from 24 and end an 88-run stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghosh fell six runs short of her maiden ODI century, but her 94 runs from 77 brought India back from the brink in stunning fashion as they posted 252.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa started slowly but were rocked when Tamzin Brits, fresh from a hundred, was out for a duck, with Luus, having made 83 not out in the previous match, was caught behind for five to leave the Proteas 18 for two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wolvaardt and Kapp moved into a position of control, but the latter\u2019s good work was undone by a peach from Rana as she went for 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another quick wicket fell as Deepti Sharma became the second India bowler to take a caught and bowled to dismiss Anneke Bosch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa were now losing regular wickets as Sinalo Jafta went for 14 as Wolvaardt searched for a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The captain reached her 50 from 81 balls, but the Proteas were unable to throw caution to the wind and move ahead of the run rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, Wolvaardt had to go for 70 from 111 balls as Gaud got her second and ended the partnership of 61.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk picked up the mantle and pushed South Africa towards their target before Tryon fell for 49, trapped leg before by Rana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that did not stop De Klerk, who continued to let rip from the crease alongside Ayabonga Khaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Klerk hit back-to-back sixes, plus a four, off Gaud in the 47th<\/sup> over to tip the balance in South Africa\u2019s favour before sealing victory with a six \u2013 the fifth of an outstanding innings that clinched the game for her side with just seven balls in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa captain Wolvaardt hailed the \u2018special\u2019 innings from de Klerk, as her unbeaten 84 powered the Proteas to an enthralling three-wicket win over India at the ICC Women\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The number eight hit five sixes and eight fours as part of her knock, including a maximum to win the game, and Wolvaardt was full of praise for her team-mate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said: \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen something like that in all of my career. That innings that Nadine played was very special. I am a bit lost for words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe found ourselves in a bit of a pickle early. We knew we were ahead of them the whole time so we thought if we can take it as deep as we can then we could have something special like saw did at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe [De Klerk] has been hitting like that in the nets, hitting our bowlers all over the park. The temperament that she showed batting with the lower order and timing the chase incredibly well.\u201d South Africa fell to 81 for five but were kept afloat by a crucial partnership between Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon, who ensured the run chase went the distance with a gutsy 49.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tryon\u2019s partnership with De Klerk proved pivotal in shifting South Africa\u2019s chase up a gear, and De Klerk revealed the pair thrived under the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen me and Chloe got together, we knew we just had to take it deep,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are a really good side in the back 10 and we said even if we need 10s in the last five or six overs, we back ourselves to get there. It was a great partnership with Chloe, she took a lot of pressure off me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt just all came together. We probably left a little too much towards the back end but I am just glad it came off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do like being under pressure, I like World Cups. There is no bigger stage than playing India at home. We knew we would have to be at our best today. They got to 250 which was quite a good total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is great to get over the line. It shows we are capable of beating the big sides and putting up a massive fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n De Klerk\u2019s innings was not the only impressive performance with the bat, as India\u2019s Richa Ghosh top-scored with 94.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That rescued India as they floundered at 153 for seven, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the wicketkeeper-batter as she looked for the positives in defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRicha has always been outstanding for us, she is someone that can always turn the game,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday the way she was hitting, we were very pleased to see that. She can hit big and get a big total on the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long tournament. Today was a tough game for us but there is a lot of learning and a lot of positives. We have good games coming up, the important thing is to keep us in a positive frame of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n RESULT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n India 251 all out in 49.5 overs (Richa Ghosh 94, Pratika Rawal 37; Chloe Tryon 3\/32, Marizanne Kapp 2\/45)<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa 252\/7 in 48.5 overs (Nadine de Klerk 84 not out, Wolvaardt 71; Sneh Rana 2\/47, Kranti Gaud 2\/59)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Result: South Africa won by three wickets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nadine de Klerk powered South Africa to a stunning three-wicket victory over hosts India at the ICC Women\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[69],"class_list":["post-4382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-cricket"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed.jpg",1932,828,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-300x129.jpg",300,129,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-768x329.jpg",640,274,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-1024x439.jpg",640,274,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-1536x658.jpg",1536,658,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed.jpg",1932,828,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"Newsbeat<\/a>","tag_info":"Newsbeat","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-captain-Laura-Wolvaardt-hailed-a-\u2018special-innings-from-Nadine-de-Klerk_compressed.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4382"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4386,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4382\/revisions\/4386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Wolvaardt played a huge role herself, anchoring the start of the innings with 70 off 111 balls while others fell regularly around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n