Australia’s star leg-spinner Alana King delivered a sensational performance as the defending champions dominated the group stage of the Women’s World Cup with a commanding seven-wicket victory over South Africa in Indore. With this win, Australia advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face hosts India in Navi Mumbai on October 30. South Africa, meanwhile, will meet England in the first semi-final in Guwahati on October 29.
Alana King produced a record-breaking spell, registering Australia’s best-ever bowling figures in women’s ODIs and becoming the first player to take a seven-wicket haul in a Women’s World Cup match. Her remarkable 7 for 18 helped bowl South Africa out for just 97, leaving 26 overs unused. The feat ranks second in overall World Cup history—behind only Glenn McGrath’s 7 for 15 against Namibia in the 2003 men’s edition.
Alana King's historic 7 wicket haul
South Africa’s inconsistent form resurfaced in Indore despite an overall strong group stage campaign that included five consecutive wins around two losses. The defeat will worry them, especially with their upcoming semifinal against England — a team that had already handed them a similar thrashing earlier in the tournament. Captain Laura Wolvaardt gave South Africa an electrifying start by smashing four boundaries in an over off Megan Schutt and two more against Kim Garth. However, her aggressive run was cut short by a leading edge, and Tazmin Brits soon followed, dismissed lbw by Garth, leaving South Africa struggling within the first ten overs.
Once Alana King entered the attack, the match quickly turned disastrous for South Africa. Sune Luus top-edged a sweep to depart early, and Marizanne Kapp fell for a duck as King triggered a collapse with a double-wicket maiden. Her fiery spell continued as she grabbed two more wickets in her third over, reducing South Africa to 60 for 6 in no time. The batting order crumbled under relentless pressure, with few able to withstand King’s accuracy and variation.
Sinalo Jafta attempted a brief counterattack, racing to 29 with a flurry of boundaries, but King ended that resistance too by bowling her out for her fifth wicket. The leg-spinner’s momentum only intensified as she kept slicing through the tail, taking two more wickets to etch her name into the record books. Her final figures – a historic seven-wicket haul – made her the first woman to achieve such a feat in a Women’s World Cup, sealing South Africa’s fate in a crushing defeat.
Easy chase for Australia's batting order
South Africa had a brief moment of delight when Marizanne Kapp set the tone with an impressive new-ball spell that brought back memories of her best. She began with three consecutive maiden overs, showcasing accuracy and discipline while nabbing an early breakthrough to give her side some early hope. Soon after, Masabata Klaas built on that momentum by striking with her very first delivery, dismissing the experienced Ellyse Perry for a duck and putting Australia in an unfamiliar position at 11 for 2. For a fleeting moment, it appeared as though the defending champions might be tested for the first time in the tournament.
However, the early promise quickly faded as debutant Georgia Voll displayed composure beyond her years. Stepping in as a replacement for Alyssa Healy, Voll counterattacked effectively, smacking a couple of crisp boundaries off Kapp’s bowling to settle nerves in the Australian camp. Her partnership with the ever-reliable Beth Mooney steadied the innings, blending calculated aggression with sound shot selection. Mooney, in her typical fashion, kept the scoreboard moving swiftly, racing to 22 off just 18 balls, and ensured that South Africa’s early breakthroughs didn’t translate into lasting pressure.
Despite losing Mooney late in the chase for a well-constructed 42, Australia’s dominance remained unshaken. The defending champions cruised to the target with ease, reaffirming their status as firm favourites for yet another World Cup title. The clinical display highlighted Australia’s incredible depth, resilience, and adaptability under pressure — traits that have defined their golden era in women’s cricket and make them the team to beat heading into the knockout stages.
Scorecard: South Africa 97 in 24 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 31; Alana King 7/18) lost to Australia 98/3 in 16.5 overs (Beth Mooney 42, Georgia Voll 38*; Marizanne Kapp 1/11) by 7 wickets