Indian wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh made history at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam during the Women's ODI World Cup match against South Africa on Thursday, October 9. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the game occurred at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, official ICC records and local sources confirm the coastal Andhra Pradesh venue hosted the thrilling encounter. Ghosh’s explosive 94 off 77 balls, studded with 11 fours and four sixes, set a new benchmark for the highest score by any cricketer—male or female—at No. 8 or lower in ODI World Cup history, surpassing Australia’s Nathan Coulter-Nile (92 in 2019) and India’s Pooja Vastrakar (67 in 2022).
The ACA-VDCA Stadium, known for its batsman-friendly pitches and sea-breeze-influenced swing, provided the stage for India’s competitive 251 all out in 49.5 overs, bolstered by Ghosh’s late-order heroics after a collapse to 102 for 6. South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt’s 70 and Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 off 54 balls, chased down the target with three wickets and 8.1 overs to spare, securing their second win in three matches. De Klerk’s all-round display (2 for 52) earned her Player of the Match honours. The rain-delayed toss, won by South Africa, saw them opt to field, capitalising on early moisture that aided Chloe Tryon’s 3 for 32. The vibrant Vizag crowd, numbering over 15,000, amplified the high-stakes atmosphere of the group-stage clash.
The venue clarification addresses confusion from initial media reports, as the 2025 Women’s World Cup rotates across six Indian cities, including Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, and Indore. The ACA-VDCA Stadium, with its 30,000 capacity and history of hosting IPL thrillers, is also slated for India’s next marquee fixture against defending champions Australia on October 12. This win keeps South Africa fourth in the standings, while India, also with two wins from three, remains third, setting up a crucial weekend showdown.
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Ghosh’s unprecedented knock underscores her rising stardom at 22, reinforcing India’s lower-order depth amid a tournament drawing record viewership—up 25% from 2022, per BCCI data. As the World Cup progresses, Vizag’s role as a high-scoring venue promises more fireworks, with fans already buzzing for the Australia clash on social platforms like X.
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