Nadine de Klerk Shatters Record in Historic World Cup Comeback

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup witnessed a remarkable performance on October 9, 2025, as Nadine de Klerk led South Africa to a thrilling victory over India, breaking several long-standing records in the process. The match took place at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, where South Africa successfully chased down a challenging target of 251 runs, winning by three wickets.

South Africa’s innings began with a shaky start, finding themselves in a precarious position at 81 runs for the loss of five wickets. De Klerk entered the match at number eight during the 36th over, with her team reeling at 142-6. The 25-year-old displayed exceptional skill and composure, scoring an unbeaten 84 runs off just 54 balls, featuring eight boundaries and five sixes, achieving a remarkable strike rate of 155.56. Her innings not only propelled South Africa to victory but also etched her name in cricket history.

Historic Achievements

De Klerk’s performance set a new benchmark, as she became the first player in the Women’s World Cup to score the highest runs from a batting position of seven or below while chasing. She surpassed a record that had stood for over five decades, previously held by Eileen Badham, who scored 51 not out in 1973.

The following table highlights the most runs scored by batters from number seven or below in Women’s World Cup history while chasing:

De Klerk also established a new record for the highest individual score by a batter from number eight or below while chasing in the Women’s World Cup. She became the first player to score a half-century from this position in the tournament’s history. Prior to her innings, the best performance from a batter who batted after the loss of the sixth wicket in an ODI match was a score of 68, achieved by England’s Lynsey Aksey against New Zealand in 2008.

In both categories, De Klerk now ranks second for the highest individual scores while batting first or second. The only player ahead of her is Richa Ghosh, who set an all-time record earlier in the same match with a score of 94 runs.

De Klerk’s achievements not only reflect her talent but also emphasize the growing competitiveness of women’s cricket. As the tournament progresses, her performance serves as an inspiring example for aspiring cricketers worldwide.