South Africa’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup campaign has been a tale of redemption. They started off with an unfortunate collapse bowled out for 69 runs by England. It was a meltdown that dented their confidence and left everyone wondering whether the Proteas had the ammunition to match the big sides.
But from that there was an astonishing turnaround and Proteas answered with three back-to-back wins that turned their whole story around. The turnaround began against New Zealand, where South Africa regained their groove.
They defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets, edged past India in a tense 3-wicket thriller, and repeated the dose with another 3-wicket win over Bangladesh. Three consecutive victories have now propelled them closer to the knockout stages, showcasing resilience and belief that seemed distant after the first match.
Tazmin Brits held the innings together magnificently, stitching crucial partnerships that steadied the chase, while the South African bowlers maintained a tight leash on the New Zealand batting lineup. Nadine de Klerk made her presence felt early in the tournament, taking 1 wicket with economy of 4.57 and disciplined seam bowling, mixing pace and control to keep New Zealand’s scoring in check.
Then came the blockbuster against India, a clash that would define South Africa’s campaign. The stage was set for a steep chase after India dominated with the bat in the first innings. But when the tension rose and wickets fell, Nadine de Klerk produced a masterclass in controlled aggression. Her unbeaten 84 off 54 balls, laced with 8 fours and 5 sixes, was nothing short of sensational.
She attacked the Indian spinners with confidence, punished every short delivery, and showed remarkable judgment in choosing when to rotate strike and when to unleash her power. The hallmark of that knock was its maturity — a perfect blend of aggression and awareness under pressure.
With the ball, she had already contributed by taking 2 wickets for 52 runs in 6.5 overs, removing India’s key batters and breaking partnerships at the right time. And when the final over arrived, with South Africa needing 6 off 8 balls, knee-high full toss, de Klerk finished the job in emphatic style, a towering six over long-on to clinch a three-wicket win.
The next challenge against Bangladesh proved trickier. Yet, South Africa once again found their finisher in Nadine de Klerk. Earlier in the match, she bowled cleverly to pick 1 wicket, using subtle changes of pace and seam angles to stifle Bangladesh’s middle order. When the Proteas began their chase, it was Chloe Tryon who provided the initial stability with 62 off 69 balls, but as the game tightened, de Klerk stepped in once more.
She engineered the chase with intelligence and aggression, scoring a vital 37* off 29 balls including 4 fours and 1 six that kept South Africa in touch with the target despite mounting pressure. The finale was dramatic with just 4 balls remaining and 6 to win, de Klerk faced a full toss and launched it over deep square leg for yet another winning six, sealing a third consecutive three-wicket victory for South Africa.
Klerk’s combination of power, poise, and precision has turned her into the heartbeat of this South African side. Every time she walks out now, the dugout relaxes, the fans lean forward, and the opposition braces for impact because if Nadine de Klerk is still at the crease, South Africa’s hopes are always alive.
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