Richa's valiant 94 in vain as SA make India pay for mistakes

It was a story all too familiar for India. A collapse, dotting up in the middle-overs and another chaotic unravelling against left-arm spin.

- SAMREEN RAZZAQUI

In their first two matches of the 2025 Women's World Cup, India managed to escape through the cracks. Against Sri Lanka, they clawed back from 124/6 to 269/8. Against Pakistan, from 159/5 to 247. But those were subcontinental rivals, opponents India had dominated in the past.

South Africa, fresh off a stirring comeback win against New Zealand after a heartbreaking 10-wicket loss to England, were not going to be generous.

India's recent head-to-head record against South Africa offered comfort having won five consecutive ODIs before this game, but their World Cup history told a different tale. The Proteas had outclassed India in their last two encounters in 2017 and 2022. And in Visakhapatnam on a gloomy Thursday, under skies that had thundered and poured, that narrative continued.

When South Africa lost to England on the opening day, Nadine de Klerk had admitted that what cost them was the absence of a batter willing to put her hand up and stay in the middle. Against New Zealand, that changed-Tazmin Brits quite literally raised her hand. Lessons had been learnt, and Sune Luus had decided to shoulder the responsibility.

Against India, those lessons carried forward. De Klerk decided to do that too but it was a combined batting effort from the resurgent South Africans that ensured a thrilling three-wicket victory.