Sports Desk: Women’s World Cup Upset: South Africa Stuns India in Thriller
Vizag’s Electric Eve
Under the floodlights of Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium on October 9, 2025, two cricket powerhouses clashed in the ICC Women’s World Cup‘s 10th fixture. India, unbeaten and brimming with home crowd energy, faced a hungry South Africa eyeing their first tournament scalp against the hosts.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat, banking on the pitch’s early zip to build a defendable total. What unfolded was a tale of grit, collapse, and sheer audacity, leaving spectators breathless until the final ball.
India’s Batting Blues and Boom
The innings kicked off shakily, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma falling cheaply to South Africa’s seam attack. By the 20th over, India teetered at 102 for six, wickets tumbling to sharp catches and probing lines from Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon.
Enter Richa Ghosh, the Bengal batter who scripted a rescue act for the ages. Her blistering 94 off 77 balls, laced with 10 fours and four sixes, hauled India to 251 all out in 49.3 overs. Paired with Sneh Rana’s gritty 29, she forged an 88-run stand that flipped despair into defiance.
Proteas’ Precarious Pursuit
South Africa started steadily, Laura Wolvaardt anchoring with a composed 70 off 88 deliveries. But India’s spinners struck back, reducing the visitors to 142 for six midway through the chase, echoing their own earlier wobbles.
The turning point arrived with Nadine de Klerk striding in at number eight. What followed was a masterclass in calculated chaos, her unbeaten 84 from 54 balls propelling South Africa to victory by three wickets with seven balls spare.
Standout Stars Under Pressure
De Klerk’s knock wasn’t just numbers; it was nerve-shredding theater, featuring a flurry of boundaries and two match-sealing sixes off Deepti Sharma. Her partnership with Masabata Klaas added 110 crucial runs, blending power with poise.
On the Indian side, Ghosh’s near-century earned her player-of-the-match whispers, though the bowling unit drew mixed reviews. Tryon led South Africa’s attack with three for 32, while Rana’s two for 47 offered fleeting hope in the field.
- Top Scorers:
- Richa Ghosh (IND): 94 (77 balls, 10×4, 4×6)
- Nadine de Klerk (SA): 84* (54 balls, 7×4, 2×6)
- Laura Wolvaardt (SA): 70 (88 balls, 6×4)
Echoes from the Stands and Screens
Fans packed the stands, their cheers swelling with every Ghosh six, only to hush as de Klerk unleashed hers. Social media buzzed with clips of the final over, hashtags like #CWC25Thriller trending as pundits debated if this exposed chinks in India’s armor.
Post-match, Kaur praised her team’s fight but flagged top-order frailties. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt called it “pure cricket joy,” crediting de Klerk’s “warrior spirit.” The win catapults the Proteas up the points table, while India recalibrates for upcoming clashes.
Tournament Trails Ahead
This upset injects fresh drama into a World Cup already stacked with surprises. India, still favorites on home soil, must regroup against Bangladesh next, honing their recovery blueprint. For South Africa, it’s validation of their depth beyond the stars.
As the sun sets on Vizag’s drama, one truth lingers: women’s cricket thrives on such unscripted magic, reminding us why we keep coming back for more.