IND-W vs SA-W : Nonkululeko Mlaba delivers a jaffa and a cheeky ‘bye-bye’ to Harleen Deol in Women’s World Cup 2025

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In a moment of magic from South Africa‘s left-arm spinner, Nonkululeko Mlaba claimed the crucial wicket of Harleen Deol during the 10th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Deol, who had been looking solid at the crease, was dismissed in an unusual but captivating fashion as Mlaba delivered a perfectly flighted ball that drifted and spun away, catching Deol off guard.

Mlaba’s delivery came at 74.6 kph and landed on middle stump before spinning sharply away from Deol’s bat, who was unable to make contact. The ball passed just outside her edge and crashed into the stumps, leaving Deol stunned and walking back to the pavilion with just 13 runs off 23 balls. The South African spinner not only claimed a crucial wicket but also provided Deol with a cheeky send-off with a playful ‘Bye-Bye,’ highlighting her confidence in the middle.

This dismissal marked a pivotal moment in the match, as Deol had looked set to anchor India’s innings. Mlaba’s spell was exceptional, with the left-arm spinner showing guile and precision as she made her way through the Indian top order. The wicket left India at 83/2, with both Deol and the fans stunned by the craftiness of Mlaba’s delivery. As the match progressed, South Africa’s bowlers continued to assert pressure, while Mlaba’s playful send-off served as a reminder of her dominance on the field. India Women, still facing a formidable chase, had to regroup quickly, and the stage was set for the next phase of this exciting Women’s World Cup encounter.

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India have been given a tough challenge by South Africa in the 10th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, as they find themselves at 92/4 after 21 overs. The South African bowlers have been in control, particularly with the spin duo of Mlaba and Chloe Tryon, who both made significant breakthroughs. Mlaba, with a superb spell of 2/20, dismissed both Smriti Mandhana and Harleen in the middle overs, with her precise left-arm deliveries causing issues for the Indian top order.

The early breakthroughs put India on the back foot, with Pratika Rawal (37) and Smriti Mandhana (23) falling within the first 20 overs. Despite a decent start, India has been unable to build partnerships, and with key wickets like Jemimah Rodrigues (0) falling cheaply, the batting side faces mounting pressure. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (4*) and Deepti Sharma (0*) are currently at the crease, but India’s chances of reaching a competitive total are under threat, with both batters needing to anchor the innings. South Africa’s bowlers, especially Mlaba and Tryon, have shown their class, making every over count. With India losing four wickets before the halfway mark, they will need a solid recovery from the lower order to post a challenging total.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.