South Africa Women won by 3 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
Visakhapatnam/Patiala, 10 October (Sports Desk)
South Africa Women produced a thrilling heist to defeat India Women by 3 wickets in the tenth match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. Batting first after winning the toss on a slow, turning pitch, India recovered from 102/6 to post 251 all out in 49.5 overs, thanks to Richa Ghosh’s valiant 94 off 77 balls (11×4, 4×6)—her highest ODI score and the highest by an Indian No. 8 in a World Cup. Sneh Rana’s 33 off 24 (3×4, 1×6) added late impetus. Chloe Tryon (3/32) starred for South Africa, with Marizanne Kapp (2/45) and Nadine de Klerk (2/52) supporting. Chasing 252, South Africa slipped to 81/5, but Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 70 (85 balls; 5×4) and de Klerk’s unbeaten career-best 84 (54 balls; 8×4, 4×6) forged a match-winning 171-run 6th-wicket stand—the highest for South Africa in a WC chase. They reached 252/7 in 49.5 overs. de Klerk was Player of the Match. South Africa (2-1) rise to second with +1.2 NRR, while India (2-1) drop to third after their first defeat.
The match was a low-scoring thriller, with turn favoring spinners and de Klerk’s counterattack stealing the show.
Toss and Playing XIs
- Toss: South Africa Women won and elected to field first (to exploit the spin-friendly pitch).
- India Women XI: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh. (Impact Sub: Kranti Gaud—used for bowling.)
- South Africa Women XI: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune. (Impact Sub: Masabata Klaas—used for pace.)
watch…..India U19 Triumphs: A 7-Wicket Win in 1st Youth Test
India Women Innings: 251 all out (49.5 overs)
India’s top order struggled, but Ghosh’s blitz rescued a par total on a turning track.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pratika Rawal | c Brits b Kapp | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Smriti Mandhana | c Wolvaardt b Mlaba | 13 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 65.00 |
| Harleen Deol | b Kapp | 13 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 52.00 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | c Jafta b Tryon | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (c) | c Bosch b Tryon | 15 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 53.57 |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | c Wolvaardt b de Klerk | 94 | 77 | 11 | 4 | 122.08 |
| Amanjot Kaur | c Luus b Tryon | 22 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 75.86 |
| Sneh Rana | c Brits b Kapp | 33 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 137.50 |
| Deepti Sharma | b Mlaba | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shree Charani | run out (Luus) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Renuka Singh | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 54) | 56 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 251 all out (49.5 overs) | 19 | 5 | 5.04 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Rawal, 0.3 ov), 2-19 (Mandhana, 5.2 ov), 3-23 (Rodrigues, 7.4 ov), 4-38 (Deol, 11.5 ov), 5-53 (Kaur, 16.1 ov), 6-102 (Amanjot Kaur, 27.1 ov), 7-190 (Rana, 40.3 ov), 8-190 (Sharma, 40.4 ov), 9-251 (Charani, 49.5 ov).
- Key Highlights: Powerplay: 28/2. Ghosh-Rana 88-run 8th-wicket stand from 102/6; 54 wides from SA (tournament-high).
- South Africa Bowling:
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Econ Chloe Tryon 10 1 32 3 3.20 Marizanne Kapp 10 0 45 2 4.50 Nonkululeko Mlaba 10 0 52 2 5.20 Nadine de Klerk 10 0 52 1 5.20 Ayabonga Khaka 5 0 25 0 5.00 Tumi Sekhukhune 4.5 0 35 0 7.50
South Africa Women Innings: 252/7 (49.5 overs, target 252)
South Africa’s chase was a rollercoaster, slumping to 81/5 before Wolvaardt-de Klerk’s heroics.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | c Ghosh b Rana | 70 | 85 | 5 | 0 | 82.35 |
| Tazmin Brits | c Rodrigues b Rana | 15 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Sune Luus | c Ghosh b Charani | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Marizanne Kapp | c Kaur b Rana | 20 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Anneke Bosch | c Mandhana b Sharma | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nadine de Klerk | not out | 84* | 54 | 8 | 4 | 155.56 |
| Sinalo Jafta (wk) | c Ghosh b Charani | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Chloe Tryon | run out (Ghosh) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 60) | 62 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 252/7 (49.5 overs) | 16 | 4 | 5.07 RPO |
- Fall of Wickets: 1-28 (Brits, 7.1 ov), 2-28 (Luus, 7.4 ov), 3-48 (Kapp, 13.2 ov), 4-48 (Bosch, 13.4 ov), 5-81 (Wolvaardt, 21.3 ov), 6-81 (Jafta, 21.4 ov), 7-81 (Tryon, 21.5 ov).
- Key Highlights: Powerplay: 28/4. Wolvaardt-de Klerk 171-run 6th-wicket stand from 81/5; de Klerk’s 84* career-best (8×4, 4×6); 60 wides from India (WC record).
- India Bowling:
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Econ Sneh Rana 10 0 47 3 4.70 Shree Charani 10 0 38 2 3.80 Deepti Sharma 10 0 45 1 4.50 Renuka Singh 9 0 52 0 5.78 Amanjot Kaur 5 0 35 0 7.00 Kranti Gaud 5.5 0 35 0 6.00
Match Context and Key Notes
- Tournament Impact: South Africa (2-1) second with +1.2 NRR; India (2-1) third. SA aim for third win vs England; India regroup for Australia.
- Milestones: de Klerk’s 84* her highest in ODIs; Wolvaardt’s 70 her 20th 50 vs India; Ghosh’s 94 highest by No. 8 in WC; Tryon’s 3/32 her best in WC.
