October 10, 2025

Hold your breath, cricket fans! On a thrilling Thursday at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk stepped up big time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. India’s Richa Ghosh had set the stage on fire with a breathtaking 94 off 76 balls, rescuing India from a dire 102 for six. The battle looked fierce, but de Klerk swung her bat like a warrior and finished unbeaten on 84 from just 54 balls, guiding South Africa to a tense win with three wickets in hand and seven balls to spare. India chose to chase after a short rain break, but the story soon turned into a rollercoaster. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal fell early, and India’s struggle against South Africa's left-arm spin bowlers Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba was clear. India lost five wickets for just 19 runs, but then came the thunderbolt—Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana stitched a valuable 88-run partnership that put India back in business. When South Africa began their chase, they faced immediate storms. Kranti Gaud caught the sparkling Tazmin Brits out, and even though a dropped catch let Kapp off the hook, Sneh Rana quickly had her stumped. The wickets kept tumbling with Luus dismissed cheaply. Tryon’s arrival steadied things as she and Wolvaardt shared a vital 61-run stand, but Harmanpreet Kaur’s smart bowling brought Kranti back, who dismantled Wolvaardt with a perfect yorker. Tryon joined hands with de Klerk for a daring push towards victory. But cramps hit Tryon just as the finish line came near, and she was bowled leg before wicket thanks to a sharp review by Sneh. The pressure mounted, but de Klerk unleashed a flurry of boundaries in Kranti’s final over, pulling South Africa back from the brink. Even as India’s keeper crumpled with cramps, pausing the game, the South African spirit roared on. De Klerk’s unyielding courage led the Proteas to their third consecutive ODI World Cup win against India. This match was a classic rollercoaster mixed with skill, nerves, and true grit. South Africa showed the world that when the game is on the line, De Klerk is the star who rises. "Stepping up to the plate: De Klerk, with the contest in the balance, swung it in South Africa’s favour," summed up the excitement of this unforgettable contest.

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Tags: De klerk, Richa ghosh, South africa vs india, Odi world cup, Women's cricket, Cricket match highlights,