Australian leg-spinner Alana King took 7 wickets for 18 runs as Australia demolished South Africa for just 97 runs in their final Women's ODI World Cup 2025 group stage match on Saturday. King's figures are the best ever by an Australian woman in ODIs and the first seven-wicket haul in the tournament's history. This secured Australia a seven-wicket victory and top spot in the standings, setting up a semifinal clash with hosts India.
Opting to bat under overcast skies at Holkar Stadium, South Africa started brightly with captain Laura Wolvaardt hitting seven boundaries in her 31 off 26 balls. However, her dismissal in the seventh over triggered a total collapse. King ripped through the middle order, taking four wickets without conceding a run in her first 15 balls. At one point, her figures read an astonishing 2.3-2-0-4 as she dismissed Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, and Chloe Tryon in quick succession.
Only three South African batters reached double figures. Sinalo Jafta provided brief resistance with a counter-attacking 29 off 17 balls before becoming King's fifth victim. King cleaned up the tail, bowling Masabata Klaas and Nadine de Klerk to complete her historic seven-wicket haul as South Africa were bundled out in just 24 overs, bookending their group stage with sub-100 totals. "I’m just happy to extract as much as I can out of the pitch. As a bowler, you always love wickets,” King said afterward.
Chasing the small target, Australia stumbled briefly, losing Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry early to fall to 11 for 2. However, Georgia Voll, 38* and Beth Mooney, 42 quickly steadied the chase with a 76-run partnership. Mooney fell with 11 runs needed, but Voll guided Australia home comfortably in just 16.5 overs, securing victory with more than 33 overs to spare.
The comprehensive win ensures Australia finishes the group stage unbeaten and will face India in the second semifinal in Navi Mumbai on October 30. South Africa, despite the heavy defeat, finishes second and will meet England in the first semifinal in Guwahati on October 29.
