Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 guided South Africa to a three-wicket win over India with seven balls to spare in the ICC Women’s World Cup fixture on Thursday.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt anchored the chase with 70 runs, while Chloe Tryon added 49 as South Africa recovered from 142/6 to reach 252/7 in 48.5 overs. The victory gave the Proteas four points and moved them into the top four of the standings. India suffered their first loss in three matches but remain in the top four.
Chasing 252, South Africa lost early wickets as Kranti Gaud dismissed Tazmin Brits for a three-ball duck. Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, and Sinalo Jafta also fell cheaply, leaving the Proteas in trouble at 81/5.
Wolvaardt and Tryon rebuilt the innings, adding 61 for the sixth wicket, before Tryon was dismissed for 49. De Klerk then took charge, striking five sixes and key boundaries to secure victory.
Earlier, South Africa had India on the back foot with the ball, reducing the hosts to 102/6 midway through their innings after opting to bowl first. But a sensational 77-ball 94 by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh rescued India, as she shared two crucial partnerships with the tail — 50 with Amanjot Kaur (13) and 88 for the eighth wicket with Sneh Rana (33 off 24 balls) — helping India reach a competitive 251 all out in 49.5 overs.
Brief scores:
India 251 all out in 49.5 overs (Richa Ghosh 94, Pratika Rawal 37, Sneh Rana 33; Chloe Tryon 3-32, Marizanne Kapp 2-45, Nadine de Klerk 2-52)
lost to
South Africa 252/7 in 48.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 70, Chloe Tryon 49, Nadine de Klerk 84*; Kranti Gaud 2-59, Sneh Rana 2-47)
by three wickets.