By Admin 
In a very important match of the Women’s World Cup 2025, the Indian team had to face defeat by 3 wickets against South Africa. South Africa achieved the target of 252 runs given by the Indian team by losing 7 wickets in 48.5 overs.
South Africa, setting out to achieve the target of 252, won the match by scoring 252 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 48.5 overs with the help of captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 70 off 111 balls, Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 off 54 balls, and Chloe Tryon’s 49 runs off 66 balls.
South Africa was in trouble at one time after losing 6 wickets at 142. At this time the match seemed to be turning towards India but Tryon and Clerk ruined the Indian team’s plans of victory by making a partnership of 69 runs for the seventh wicket. Clarke hit 5 sixes and 8 fours in his unbeaten innings of 84 runs off 54 balls.
Earlier, the Indian team, which came to bat first after losing the toss at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, had scored 251 runs. Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana gave a serious start to the Indian team. Both added 55 runs for the first wicket in 10.2 overs. Mandhana was out after scoring 23 runs. Pratika also got out after scoring 37 runs. Apart from these two, all the top order batsmen were flops. Harleen Deol was out on 13, captain Harmanpreet Kaur was out on 9, and Jemimah Rodrigues was out on 0. Deepti Sharma was out after scoring 4 runs and Amanjot Kaur was out after scoring 13 runs. The Indian team was in trouble after losing 7 wickets for 153 runs in 40 overs.
Wicketkeeper batsman Risha Ghosh, who came to bat at number eight, took charge of the team. Ghosh scored the seventh half-century of his ODI career. Ghosh was out in the last over after scoring 94 runs on 77 balls with the help of 11 fours and 4 sixes. She was out as the ninth wicket. Ghosh made a quick and important partnership of 88 runs in 53 balls for the eighth wicket with Snehar Rana. Rana was out after playing an important inning of 33 runs with the help of 6 fours in 24 balls. The Indian team was reduced to 251 runs in 49.5 overs.
This is the first defeat of the Indian team in its third match. With the defeat, the Indian team has moved to third place in the points table. Australia is at first place, England is at second place and South Africa is at fourth place.