I was shocked for probably a month after that – Nadine de Klerk

The latest iteration of ICC ODI Women’s World Cup saw a crazy thriller unfurl between India and South Africa in the league stages. Much to the woes of the Indian fans, they ended up on the losing side as Nadine de Klerk dished out a miraculous knock to take South Africa across the finish line.

Both India and South Africa had one thing in common in that game and that was losing the top-order cheaply. Eventually, a herculean knock of 94 from 77 balls from Richa Ghosh lifted India to a fighting total of 251.The Indian bowlers gunned in from the word go and reduced South Africa to 81/5 at one stage. Laura Wolvaardt’s patient knock of 70 got them to 142 but once Wolvaardt fell, the Indian fans thought that the game was going in their favour.

Much to their shock, it didn’t as Nadine de Klerk arrived in the center and played a knock of a lifetime, propelling South Africa across the finish line. De Klerk smashed 84 off 54 balls and stayed unbeaten as the Proteas pulled off a miraculous win from the very jaws of defeat.

Talking with Mayanti Langer on the RCB Podcast teaser, Nadine de Klerk opened up about the game. She explained how the entire game unravelled and what was going on in her mind when she came out to bat with South Africa struggling.

Nadine said, “That match, because it got everyone talking. It was a packed stadium. The sort of was an unknown, obviously, the crowd cheering because, like I said, Richa was just pumping us to all parts of the ground, and I was a bit shocked as well.”

Shedding light on what was on her mind when she came out to bat, de Klerk said, “And I was like, I cannot believe this actually happened because, like I said, it was just taking it one ball at a time, and I was actually never thinking about the result that lost over that I faced where I was like, I think this game is on and it's probably ours to lose from here on. So I think after we won that game, I was shocked for probably a month after that, really.”

Stating further on the afterthoughts of the game, Nadine added, “I didn't want it to be a one-off type of thing as well. So I love talking to myself and it was almost like, I want to be this type of player throughout this whole competition, not just this one game. Really enjoyed that win and whatever happened in the game, but also put my focus onto the next couple of games. Really special and, yeah, it's going to be hard to top that, I think, in the coming years.”