Alana King Takes Seven for Eighteen as Aussies Thrash Proteas

ICC Women's World Cup, India

South Africa 97 (24 overs): Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 31; King 7-18

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

Australia won by seven wickets

Alana King produced the finest figures in World Cup history as Australia hammered the Proteas by 7 wickets to arrange a semi-final clash with India.

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

King emerged as just the 6th woman and 3rd Australian to claim seven wickets in a women's one-day international and the pioneer to do it at a World Cup, surpassing New Zealand player Lord's previous best of six for ten against the Indian team in 1982.

The victory in Indore guarantees first place in the table for the Australian team, who have triumphed in each of their six completed matches in the preliminary round, and ensures they will face fourth-ranked India in Mumbai on October 30.

Opener Wolvaardt stood out as one of just three South African batswomen to score 10-plus runs, striking 7 boundaries during the opening six overs to provide her team a strong start, but she was bowled out for 31 by Schutt, with King taking the catch at the mid-wicket position.

{Kim Garth then dismissed Brits lbw in the final over of the fielding restrictions before Alana King struck two times in five balls as the Proteas fell from 42 for one to 43 for four|Following that, Garth dismissed Brits lbw in the powerplay's end, and then the leg-spinner claimed twice in just five balls, causing the opposition to drop from 42-1 to 43/4.

{King claimed five of the last six wickets to occur- with Gardner bowled Masabata Klaas- as the Proteas were dismissed for under 100 for the second time in the tournament, having earlier been skittled for 69 by semi-final opponents England in their first match|Alana King secured 5 out of the remaining six scalps that fell- including Gardner bowling Masabata Klaas- as the team was dismissed for under 100 for the second occasion in this event, after being routed for 69 by semi-final opponents England in the opening game.

{The defending champions briefly wobbled in their chase, slipping to 11 for two within the first six overs, before Mooney's 42 and Georgia Voll (38 not out) came together to guide them to a routine win|Although the defending champions faced a scare during the chase, dropping to 11-2 in six overs, Mooney (42 runs) and Georgia Voll (38 not out) teamed up to steer them to a smooth win.