India suffered their first lack of the Ladies’s World Cup 2025, happening by three wickets to South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
After the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed disappointment together with her prime order’s efficiency, admitting that the batters did not take duty in a vital group-stage conflict.
India collapse once more earlier than Richa Ghosh rescues the innings
India’s innings acquired off to a shaky begin after being diminished to 102 for six, earlier than wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh launched a superb counterattack. The 21-year-old smashed 94 runs off simply 77 balls, hitting 11 fours and 5 sixes to elevate India to a aggressive 251 all out.
Nonetheless, her heroics went in useless as South Africa, powered by Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 off 54 balls and captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 70, chased down the overall in type to safe an exhilarating win. The Proteas’ composed run chase handed India a wake-up name early of their marketing campaign.
Harmanpreet Kaur blames India’s top-order for lack of duty
Talking after the match, Harmanpreet didn’t mince phrases about India’s batting struggles, notably on the prime of the order.
“We didn’t take the duty as a top-order. We have now to alter issues. We have now to get the nice totals,” mentioned Harmanpreet. “It’s a lengthy match. It was a tricky sport, however there are many learnings. We have to maintain ourselves in a constructive state of mind.”
The skipper acknowledged that regardless of the batting collapse, India nonetheless managed to put up a aggressive whole, due to the resilience of the decrease order.
“Though we collapsed whereas batting, we nonetheless managed to place 250 on the board. Ultimately, Chloe and de Klerk batted rather well; they confirmed it was an excellent pitch and so they deserved to win,” she added.
Whereas disillusioned with the general consequence, Harmanpreet was stuffed with reward for Richa Ghosh, whose innings almost turned the sport in India’s favour.
“Richa has been excellent for us. As we speak we have been very happy to see her hitting. She will be able to get the large totals, and we hope she continues,” the Indian skipper mentioned.
Ghosh’s innings was a reminder of her rising maturity and talent to carry out below stress – an encouraging signal for India within the lengthy match forward.
Additionally READ: Ladies’s World Cup 2025 – Followers react to Richa Ghosh’s controversial dismissal throughout IND-W vs SA-W conflict
“No larger stage than beating India at residence”: Nadine de Klerk
For South Africa, Nadine de Klerk was the star of the night time, guiding her staff to a well-known win and incomes the Participant of the Match award.
“Look, I’m misplaced for phrases. We have now finished numerous good issues and to complete off the sport, take the sport deep and recover from the road is nice,” de Klerk mentioned.
“I do like being below stress. I really like the World Cups. No larger stage than enjoying at India at their residence. We needed to be at our greatest. Like I mentioned, it’s nice to recover from the road. We’re able to beating the perfect sides on the planet.”
She credited her teammates, together with Chloe Tryon and Laura Wolvaardt, for sustaining composure throughout the chase.
“We simply needed to take it deep. We’re an excellent facet within the backend. Even when we’d like 7 or 8 (runs per over), we will do it. Chloe took the stress off me, additionally Laura was nice,” she added.
Additionally READ: Followers erupt in pleasure as Nadine de Klerk’s batting brilliance guides South Africa to an exhilarating win over India in Ladies’s World Cup 2025
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.