Nadine de Klerk produced a brilliant match-winning innings to fire the Proteas Women to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India at the Women’s ODI World Cup on Thursday.

De Klerk smashed an unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls to steer South Africa to their target of 252 with seven balls to spare.

It was a remarkable turnaround after the visitors had slumped to 81-5 inside 20 overs.

Key contributions from captain Laura Wolvaardt (70) and Chloe Tryon (49) helped lay the platform before De Klerk sealed the result with a flurry of boundaries.

India had earlier posted 252 thanks to a superb 94 from Richa Ghosh, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered their first defeat of the tournament.

After a delayed start, India made a solid beginning with openers Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol, but Masabata Klaas struck twice to leave them 83-2 in the 17th over.

Tumi Sekhukhune and Tryon then ripped through the middle order, claiming crucial wickets including Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Ghosh led the fightback, reaching a fluent fifty and dominating the death overs alongside Sneh Rana (33). Their 88-run stand helped India recover from 92-5 to a competitive total. Ghosh was eventually dismissed for 94 off 77 balls.

South Africa’s reply started badly as Tamzin Brits fell for a duck and Suné Luus for five. Wolvaardt held the innings together with a composed 70 off 111 balls, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Tryon injected momentum with a brisk 49, and when she was trapped lbw by Rana, De Klerk took charge. She unleashed a series of powerful strokes, including back-to-back sixes off Gaud in the 47th over, to turn the game decisively in South Africa’s favour.

She finished the job in style, launching her fifth six to clinch a memorable win for the Proteas.

The Proteas Women now have two wins from three matches in the tournament and will next face Bangladesh on Monday in Visakhapatnam.

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