King Claims Seven for Eighteen as Aussies Thrash Proteas

ICC 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

Australia won by seven wickets

Alana King delivered the finest bowling performance in World Cup annals as the Australians hammered South Africa by seven wickets to set up a semi-final clash with India.

The wrist-spinner claimed seven wickets for 18 runs from seven overs as South Africa fell apart from 32 without loss to 97 all out in 24 bowling overs, with Australia completing their chase with 199 deliveries to spare.

Alana King became part of an exclusive club as the sixth woman and third Australian to take seven wickets in a ODI match, while setting a fresh World Cup benchmark that surpassed NZ bowler Jackie Lord's previous record of six wickets for 10 runs against India from 1982.

This triumph in Indore solidifies Australia's standing at the top of the leaderboard, having secured victory in every one of their six pool matches, and sets up a semi-final clash against fourth-place India in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, 30 October.

South Africa will face England, who could leapfrog them into second place with victory over New Zealand on Sunday, in the first semi-final in the city on October 29.

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

{Kim Garth then dismissed Brits leg before wicket in the final over of the fielding restrictions before Alana King struck twice in five deliveries as the Proteas fell from 42-1 to 43 for four|Following that, Kim Garth got Tazmin Brits leg before in the powerplay's end, and then the leg-spinner struck twice in just five balls, causing South Africa to slump from 42-1 to 43/4.

{King took 5 of the remaining six dismissals to occur- with Ash Gardner dismissing Klaas- as the Proteas were dismissed for less than 100 for the second time in the tournament, having previously been bowled out for 69 by knockout rivals England in their first match|Alana King took five out of the final six scalps that fell- including Ash Gardner dismissing Masabata Klaas- as the team was all out for under 100 for the second occasion in this event, after being routed for 69 by semi-final opponents England in the tournament opener.

{The defending champions briefly wobbled in their chase, slipping to 11-2 within six overs, before Mooney's 42 and Georgia Voll (38 not out) combined to guide them to a comfortable victory|Although the reigning champions had a shaky start during the chase, dropping to 11/2 in the initial six overs, Mooney (42 runs) and Voll (38 not out) partnered to steer them to a straightforward win.