Alana King Claims 7-18 as Aussies Thrash South Africa

Women's World Cup, Indore

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

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

Aussies secured seven-wicket victory

Alana King produced the finest bowling performance in World Cup history as the Australians hammered the Proteas by 7 wickets to set up a knockout meeting with the Indian team.

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

King emerged as just the 6th woman and 3rd Aussie to take seven wickets in a women's ODI and the pioneer to achieve this at a World Cup, beating Kiwi bowler Jackie Lord's previous best of six for ten against India in 1982.

This triumph in Indore solidifies the Aussies' position at the summit of the leaderboard, having secured victory in every one of their six group stage games, and sets up a knockout clash against fourth-place Team India in the city on the 30th of October.

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

Opening batter Laura Wolvaardt was one of only three Proteas players to reach double figures, smacking 7 boundaries in the opening six overs to gift her side the ideal beginning before being removed for thirty-one by Megan Schutt, with Alana King holding the grab at midwicket.

{Kim Garth then dismissed Tazmin Brits lbw in the final over of the powerplay before King struck twice in five balls as the Proteas fell from 42-1 to 43 for four|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 the opposition to slump from 42/1 to 43-4.

{King claimed five of the last six dismissals to occur- with Ash Gardner bowled Masabata Klaas- as the Proteas were dismissed for less than 100 for the second instance in the tournament, having earlier been skittled for sixty-nine by knockout rivals the English in their opener|Alana King secured 5 out of the final six wickets that fell- including Gardner bowling Klaas- as the team was all out for under 100 for the second occasion in this tournament, after being bowled out for 69 runs by semi-final opponents England in the opening game.

{The title holders stumbled briefly in their chase, falling to 11 for two inside the first six overs, before Mooney's 42 and Voll's unbeaten 38 combined to lead them to a routine win|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.