Alana King Claims 7-18 as Aussies Thrash South Africa

Women's World Cup, Indore

South Africa all out for 97: Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 31; King 7-18

Australia 98-3: Beth Mooney 42; Kapp 1-11

Aussies secured seven-wicket victory

Alana King achieved historic bowling stats of 7-18 as the defending champions overwhelmed their opponents by 7 wickets, setting up a semi-final match against the host nation.

Spin bowler Alana King captured seven wickets conceding 18 runs in her 7 overs while the South African team disintegrated from a solid start to just 97 runs in 24 overs, and Australia completed the target with 199 balls left.

Alana King joined an elite club as the 6th woman and third Australian to secure seven wickets in a ODI match, while setting a new Women's World Cup benchmark that exceeded NZ cricketer Lord's earlier best of 6-10 against India from 1982.

The win in the Indian city guarantees top spot in the standings for the Australian team, who have triumphed in each of their six completed matches in the preliminary round, and means they will meet fourth-ranked the Indian squad in Navi Mumbai on October 30.

Opener Wolvaardt stood out as one of just three South African batswomen to make 10-plus runs, crashing 7 fours during the opening six overs to provide her team a positive opening, but she was dismissed for 31 by Schutt, with Alana King taking the catch at the mid-wicket position.

{Kim Garth then dismissed Tazmin Brits lbw in the final over of the powerplay before King struck twice in five balls as South Africa collapsed from 42-1 to 43-4|Following that, Kim Garth dismissed Tazmin Brits lbw in the powerplay's end, and then the leg-spinner struck two wickets in just five balls, causing South Africa to drop from 42-1 to 43-4.

{King claimed 5 of the remaining six wickets to fall- with Ash Gardner bowled Klaas- as the Proteas were dismissed for under 100 for the second time in the tournament, having earlier been bowled out for sixty-nine by knockout rivals the English in their opener|Alana King took five out of the final six scalps that fell- including Gardner bowling Klaas- as the team was dismissed for under 100 for the second occasion in this event, after being bowled out for 69 runs by semi-final opponents England in the tournament opener.

{The title holders stumbled briefly in their chase, slipping to 11 for two inside the first six overs, before Mooney's 42 and Voll's unbeaten 38 combined to lead them to a comfortable win|Although the defending champions faced a scare during the run chase, dropping to 11-2 in the initial six overs, Beth Mooney (42 runs) and Voll (38 not out) teamed up to usher them to a smooth win.