IND W VS SA W MATCH 10

Right then, that's a wrap from the best game of this World Cup so far! South Africa Women have pulled a rabbit out of the hat to hand India Women their first defeat of the tournament. Stay tuned for more ICC Women's World Cup 2025 action, as New Zealand Women take on Bangladesh Women on Friday, October 10th, at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT). Join us a bit early for the pre-match excitement and live updates. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Laura Wolvaardt, the victorious skipper of South Africa Women, says that that was an incredible game and the innings that Nadine De Klerk played was excellent. She says that they were ahead of the game run-wise and they had to take the game deep. She adds that in the first innings, they started well, but Richa was excellent with the bat. Ends by saying that their bowlers did well and it was a good job to restrict India to 251.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India Women, says that it was a tough game, but both teams played well. Adds that they had a batting collapse, but still managed to get to 250. Mentions that when Chloe Tryon and Nadine De Klerk were batting, it looked like a batting paradise. Says that Richa Ghosh can change the course of the game single-handedly, and she did that in this game, and hopes she can carry on like that. Tells that their top order needs to fire, and they will need that to happen, as this is a long tournament. Ends by saying that they still had a lot of positives to take and will keep a positive mindset going into the next one.

Nadine De Klerk is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her match-winning knock. She says that she did her best and it worked out well. Adds that they had to be on their best today, and it feels great to get over the line, and it shows that they can beat the big teams as well. She says that they have a good side, and Chloe and Laura played well and it eased some pressure. Further says that the wicket was good and they will take learnings from this game and keep on with the same momentum in their next games as well.

Presentation Time...

India Women had to work hard to defend their total, but their fielding and catching showed a marked improvement from the previous two games. Kranti Gaud was brilliant once again with the new ball, providing an early breakthrough with a stunning one-handed catch, and Amanjot Kaur soon followed with another. The spinners kept things tight through the middle overs - though they conceded a couple of sizable partnerships, they struck at crucial moments to keep India in control. Gaud returned to claim the prized wicket of Laura Wolvaardt, while Sneh Rana bagged a couple, and everyone except Kaur chipped in with one to round off a solid bowling effort. However, the bowlers just could not handle the pressure at the death which sealed their fate.

Earlier in the game, India Women posted 251 after being asked to bat first. Richa Ghosh rescued them with a brilliant knock, following a collapse to 102/6. Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana started solidly, but India lost regular wickets as their middle order collapsed. Amanjot Kaur and Richa Ghosh led the recovery, adding 51 runs together. Sneh Rana then joined Ghosh, and they put on 88 runs for the eighth wicket. Ghosh scored 94, while Rana contributed 33. South Africa Women's sloppy fielding and bowling in the death overs allowed India to post a competitive total.

The fightback began when Chloe Tryon joined Laura Wolvaardt at the crease. The pair took their time early on, settling the nerves and rotating the strike smartly while picking up the occasional boundary to keep the required rate in check. Wolvaardt brought up a determined half-century as the duo stitched together a 61-run partnership before the skipper fell at a crucial juncture. Still, South Africa didn’t lose belief. Tryon found strong support in Nadine De Klerk, who played the aggressor in a 69-run stand that brought them closer to the target. Unfortunately, Tryon, battling a calf issue in the closing stages, fell for 49, leaving the equation tense once again as they needed 41 in 25 balls. However, De Klerk kept her calm at the death and targeted the young Kranti Gaud, hitting her for 18 runs in the 47th over, which tilted the momentum, and then she finished the job, staying unbeaten on 84 and with 7 balls to spare.

When South Africa Women began their chase, the tension was evident - their batters looked a touch hesitant with their shot selection. The world’s most in-form batter, Tazmin Brits, fell for a duck, piling on the pressure, and Sune Luus couldn’t make much of an impression either. With both of their previous game’s top performers back in the pavilion early, the chase was off to a shaky start. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp tried to steady the innings for a while, but Kapp was undone by a brilliant delivery from Sneh Rana. That wicket triggered a collapse, as South Africa slipped from 57/2 to 81/5, though the captain remained composed and anchored one end.

Take a bow, Nadine De Klerk! What a player, what a game! This is why we love this sport, one moment you are down and out, the next you are ecstatic. South Africa Women have completed the hat-trick of World Cup wins over India - 2017, 2022, and now in 2025. The hosts will feel like it slipped away from them, but when someone plays a knock like De Klerk, you just have to bow down to the masterclass.

SIX! THAT'S THE WINNING RUNS! South Africa Women makes it three in three against India Women in the ICC WODI World Cup. Full toss on middle and off, Nadine De Klerk stays leg side to it and heaves this out of the park and runs towards her team's dugout in joy as the ball sails beyond the boundary rope for six. South Africa Women win this by 3 wickets.

On a length around off, Nadine De Klerk pushes this to cover for no run.

SIX! NADINE DE KLERK, REMEMBER THE NAME! On a length around middle and leg, a nothing ball from Amanjot Kaur. Nadine De Klerk shuffles to her leg and slogs this up and over the fence towards the deep mid-wicket region for a gigantic six.

Good length on off, Nadine De Klerk looks to run this down to the third man fence but Richa Ghosh does well with a dive to her right that saves runs for the side.

EXCELLENT FROM THE INDIAN SKIPPER! Pitched up on off, Nadine De Klerk smashes this powerfully wide to the right of extra cover. Harmanpreet Kaur dives to her right, full-stretch and fields this one.

Full toss on the pads, Nadine De Klerk sweeps this for a single to deep square. Nadine was looking exactly just for one.

FOUR! And four more. Nadine De Klerk is playing a blinder. Tossed up on middle and off, Nadine De Klerk shuffles to her leg, opens up the off side and lofts this up and over the fielder at cover for four more runs. 13 needed off 13 now.