Belief and patience carry Proteas past India in World Cup thriller

South Africa’s resilience and self-belief paid off in spectacular fashion as they pulled off a three-wicket victory over hosts India in Visakhapatnam on Thursday evening (SA time), keeping their Women’s World Cup campaign alive and surging back into the top four.

After a shaky start and a top-order collapse, Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 off 54 balls guided the Proteas to 252/7 in 48.5 overs — chasing down India’s 251 all out with seven balls to spare. It was the kind of nervy, grinding contest that demanded both faith and patience, qualities that captain Laura Wolvaardt and her players had spoken about in the build-up.

From belief to execution

“Belief is a powerful thing at an ICC Women's Cricket World Cup,” Wolvaardt said afterwards, summing up the mood of a team that had been under pressure earlier in the tournament.

After their heavy defeat to England, Wolvaardt had insisted her side was “much, much better than 69 all out,” and her faith has since been rewarded. South Africa responded with a commanding win over New Zealand, and now, a composed yet spirited chase against India — their second straight victory over a major contender.

India’s innings had seemed to have been rescued by Richa Ghosh, who smashed 94 from 77 balls after the hosts had slumped to 102/6. Her counterattack helped lift India to 251 before they were bowled out in the final over. 

Chloe Tryon led the Proteas bowling effort with 3/32, while de Klerk chipped in with 2/52.

But it was the chase where South Africa’s belief truly shone through.

A captain’s stand under pressure

Wolvaardt anchored the innings with 70 off 111 balls after South Africa stumbled to 81/5. Her composure kept the chase alive, first through a 61-run partnership with Tryon, who contributed 49 off 66.

When Tryon departed, the Proteas still needed 102 runs with limited batting left. That was when de Klerk stepped up — first rebuilding, then unleashing.

“It got a bit more tricky when (Chloe) got out,” de Klerk said. “But I guess it's just about the belief and the character at the end of the day, and we just wanted to stick it out and fight really hard because we knew how important this game was for our team.”

She continued: “Really glad we got over the line. I think the most important part is, and we've seen it in this World Cup, is you just have to stick it out. Doesn't matter if you're batting No.8 or No.9, (you just have to) give yourself a chance. 

“I mean, Richa (Ghosh) did it today for India as well. Just try and bat time.”

Playing smart cricket

At 183/6, South Africa were still well behind the asking rate, but de Klerk timed her acceleration perfectly. She and Tryon had added 69 brisk runs before the latter’s dismissal, and de Klerk continued the assault, clearing the ropes five times in total — the last of them sealing the win.

“And I guess when it comes to the back 10 (overs), you can really start backing yourself and try and take the game on,” she said. “And if it does come off, that 70 or 80 runs in the last 10 makes a massive difference in these totals.”

De Klerk’s calculated aggression was rooted in reading the conditions. “I think seam (bowling) was much easier on this wicket and I think even when we bowled the back end, we felt like it was a pretty good wicket,” she explained.

“But I think their spinners bowled really well in that middle phase. So, I think especially in that back 10, we knew they're going to have to bowl a few seamers and that was going to be the much easier option to take on.

“So, I think, like I said, we just played smart cricket. Me and Chloe just tried to take it really deep. We knew that if we had to get 40 of the last four and the two of us were still batting that we could get it. So, it was just about building that partnership, getting ourselves in and then taking especially the pacers down. 

“And that was always the plan to try and take the pacers down. Which was much easier on that surface.”

Finishing with conviction

De Klerk’s unbeaten 84 — studded with five sixes and eight fours — was not just her highest international score but one of the most controlled lower-order innings seen in the tournament. It backed up the Proteas’ quiet confidence that they could chase 250 successfully.

“We were pretty confident in chasing 250,” she said. “I think we made it a bit harder for ourselves than we would have liked. But, like I said, there's a lot of positives and glad we got over the line today.”

Her captain echoed that sentiment, crediting the team’s trust in their process and refusal to panic. “It was just one of those days against England,” Wolvaardt had said earlier in the week, “but we knew the kind of cricket we can play.”

Against India, that belief translated into execution.

Momentum regained

The result moves South Africa into fourth on the standings, level on points with India and just behind Australia and England. It was also a statement of character — a match where patience, planning and composure overcame early setbacks.

For de Klerk, the performance encapsulated everything the team had been working toward. “I do love being under pressure and hopefully this gives us a lot of confidence,” she said after receiving the Player of the Match award. 

“I love World Cups and [there is] no bigger stage than playing India at home.”

The Proteas will have a short break before returning to action against Bangladesh at the same venue — a team that will now face opponents rediscovering both form and belief.