Vishakapatnam, Oct 10: Despite a valiant effort from Richa Ghosh, whose dazzling 77-ball 94 nearly single-handedly resurrected India’s innings, the hosts suffered a heartbreaking three-wicket defeat to South Africa in a pulsating ICC Women’s World Cup encounter here on Thursday.The match swung dramatically across both innings — from India’s early collapse to a spirited recovery and finally, a composed chase led by Nadine de Klerk that sealed victory for the Proteas with seven balls to spare.
After being sent in to bat on a dry surface at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium, India got off to a promising start through openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who took the score to 55 without loss.
But what followed was a dramatic collapse as the middle order crumbled under sustained pressure from the South African attack.
From 55 for no loss, India slumped to 102 for six in just 26 overs, losing momentum and control.At that precarious stage, Ghosh walked in like a storm. The wicketkeeper-batter unleashed an array of clean, powerful strokes — cutting, pulling, and lofting with conviction — to drag India back into contention. Her 94 off 77 balls, studded with 11 fours and four towering sixes, stood as a masterclass in counterattack and composure under pressure.
She found brief support from Sneh Rana (33) and Pratika Rawal (37), helping India reach a competitive total of 251 before being bowled out in the final over. Chloe Tryon was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, claiming 3 for 32 with her canny variations.In reply, South Africa began their chase cautiously, aware that early wickets could tilt the contest back in India’s favour. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a fluent 70, mixing elegance with aggression as she stitched crucial partnerships with Tazmin Brits and Chloe Tryon.
When Tryon fell agonisingly short of a half-century on 49, the visitors still needed 80 runs with four wickets in hand.That’s when Nadine de Klerk took charge. Displaying remarkable composure and power, de Klerk launched a breathtaking counteroffensive, hammering five sixes and eight boundaries in her unbeaten 84 off just 54 deliveries.
Her calculated aggression dismantled India’s bowling plans, turning the contest decisively in South Africa’s favour. Even as wickets fell around her, de Klerk remained unflustered, steering her side home in 48.5 overs to complete a memorable win.For India, it was yet another night of mixed emotions — flashes of brilliance overshadowed by moments of fragility. While Ghosh’s innings will be remembered as one of the finest counterattacking knocks of the tournament, the lack of partnerships and consistency in the top order hurt the team’s chances. The bowlers, led by Sneh Rana (2/47), toiled hard but failed to maintain pressure in the death overs against de Klerk’s onslaught.