Alana King Takes Seven for Eighteen as Australia Demolish South Africa

ICC Women's World Cup, India

South Africa 97 (24 overs): Wolvaardt 31 (26); King 7-18

Australia 98-3 (16.5 overs): Mooney 42 (41); Marizanne Kapp 1-11

Australia won by seven wickets

Alana King achieved record-breaking figures of 7-18 as the defending champions overwhelmed South Africa by 7 wickets, setting up a final four encounter against India.

The wrist-spinner took 7-18 from seven overs as South Africa fell apart from 32 without loss to 97 all out in 24 overs, with Australia completing their chase with 199 balls remaining.

Alana King became part of an exclusive group as the 6th female player and 3rd from Australia to secure 7 wickets in a women's ODI, while setting a fresh World Cup benchmark that exceeded New Zealand cricketer Lord's earlier best of six wickets for 10 runs against India from 1982.

This success in the venue solidifies Australia's standing at the summit of the table, having won every one of their six group stage matches, and sets up a semi-final contest against fourth-placed India in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, 30 October.

South Africa will face England, who could leapfrog them into second place with a win over the Kiwis on the weekend, in the opening knockout in Guwahati on Wednesday, 29 October.

Opening player Laura Wolvaardt stood out as one of just three South Africa batters to score 10-plus runs, striking 7 fours during the initial six overs to provide her side a positive opening, but she was bowled out for 31 by Schutt, with King completing the catch at the mid-wicket position.

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

{King claimed 5 of the remaining six wickets to fall- with Ash Gardner dismissing Klaas- as South Africa were dismissed for under 100 for the second instance in the tournament, having previously been bowled out for 69 by knockout rivals England in their first match|Alana King secured 5 out of the remaining six wickets that fell- including Gardner dismissing Masabata Klaas- as South Africa was all out for under 100 for the second occasion in this event, after being routed for 69 runs by semi-final opponents England in the tournament opener.

{The title holders stumbled briefly in their chase, slipping to 11-2 inside the first six overs, before Beth Mooney (42) and Georgia Voll (38 not out) came together to lead them to a routine victory|Although the defending champions faced a scare during the run chase, slipping to 11-2 in six overs, Mooney (42 runs) and Voll (38 not out) teamed up to usher them to a smooth triumph.