In a nail-biting encounter at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, South Africa Women pulled off a stunning three-wicket win over India, reshaping the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 points table.
Batting first, India posted a competitive 251 runs, thanks to a brilliant 94-run knock by Richa Ghosh, who anchored the innings after early breakthroughs by South Africa’s pace attack. Despite a strong start, India’s lower order faltered, leaving a chaseable target on a batting-friendly pitch.
South Africa’s response was shaky in the middle overs, but Nadine de Klerk’s explosive 84 turned the game in their favor. Her fearless batting under pressure guided the Proteas to victory with just a few balls to spare, handing India their first defeat of the tournament.
Updated ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Points Table
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +1.960 |
| England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.757 |
| India | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +0.959 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -0.888 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.573 |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1.255 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.463 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.887 |
What It Means for India
The defeat comes as a setback for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team, which started its campaign with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. With two victories from three matches, India currently sits third on the table but faces a challenging path ahead.
Their next three games are against Australia, England, and New Zealand — all top-tier teams and strong contenders for the semifinals. The margin for error is now slim, and maintaining a healthy Net Run Rate (NRR) will be crucial for India’s qualification hopes.
South Africa Rise in Rankings
The victory pushes South Africa into the top four, marking a comeback after an inconsistent start. Despite a negative NRR, the Proteas’ morale-boosting win positions them as serious semifinal contenders.
Today’s fixture between New Zealand and Bangladesh will further influence mid-table standings, while all eyes remain on Sunday’s high-voltage clash — India vs Australia, which could define the momentum of the tournament.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
