By Trisha Ghosal in Vizag
A night to remember for Nadine de Klerk and South Africa, who pulled off a stunning chase to hand India their first defeat of the tournament. De Klerk’s unbeaten knock turned the game on its head, rescuing her side from 81/5 and guiding them home with seven balls to spare. Brimming with confidence and emotion, she addressed the press after the win, speaking about her mindset under pressure, the partnership that changed the game, and South Africa’s belief in chasing big totals.
Taking it deep with Tryon
Walking in under pressure with wickets tumbling, de Klerk revealed that the message between her and Chloe Tryon was simple: take it deep.
“Llook, I think when Chloe and I were batting together, we just said we wanted to take it deep,” she said. “We felt if the two of us were still batting at the back end, we backed ourselves to get ten an over in the last few (overs). It was just about being positive and taking smart options while putting their bowlers under pressure.”
The pair’s partnership shifted momentum in the chase, mixing calculated risks with clean power-hitting. “We knew the seamers would come back later, and that’s when we’d go,” she added.
Tactical pause turned advantage
A brief interruption during her innings, following back-to-back sixes, could have broken her rhythm, but de Klerk turned it into a reset. “We kind of questioned whether something really happened,” she smiled. “It felt tactical from India, to slow the game down, but it worked well for me. It gave me a few seconds to refresh and reset.”
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Backing her natural game
Known for her aggressive style, de Klerk credited both instinct and preparation. “I’ve always been a natural power-hitter,” she said. “Our trainer makes us work a lot on power and explosiveness. I just tried to keep it simple tonight, not overhit, just time the ball.”
A former hockey player, she joked that the sport might have helped her “find awkward gaps where fielders usually aren’t.”
Belief and balance in the chase
De Klerk acknowledged that India’s lower order, led by Richa Ghosh, lifted the total to a competitive level. “They batted well at the back end to get to 250, but we still felt it was a bit under par. The wicket eased out later, and if you give yourself time, you can always catch up,” she said.
Even after Tryon’s dismissal, de Klerk’s resolve didn’t waver. “Once she got out, it was about belief and character,” she said. “I just wanted to see it through.”
“Feels amazing to be there at the end”
As the winning runs were struck, de Klerk’s clenched fist said it all. “I don’t have many words,” she admitted. “It feels amazing to be there at the end, that’s my role in this team. I haven’t had many chances this World Cup, so to contribute in a win like this feels really special.”
