Australia Smash South Africa as Alana King’s 7-Wicket Spell Sends Warning to India

Australia don't do mercy. Not in tournament cricket. Not when a top spot waits. On a warm Indore afternoon, they flattened South Africa by 7 wickets and marched into the semifinals as table-toppers. The win looked routine in the end, but it happened because of a player who turned the match into a one-sided story: Alana King.

Seven wickets. Eighteen runs. Pure destruction. It was the control and execution of over 42 top-class deliveries. South Africa had arrived at this World Cup with intent. King sent them home with questions they will carry longer than this flight out of Indore.

Meg Lanning won the toss and chose to bowl first. The pitch offered bounce, grip, and encouragement. South Africa still had a chance to build something. The openers just needed to survive the first 5 overs, but they didn't.

Megan Schutt struck early, forcing a miscued lofted shot from Laura Wolvaardt that only traveled as far as mid-on. But Wolvaardt, to her credit, fought back and counter-punched. She scored 31 runs with class, and for a moment, South Africa looked alive.

Then Alana King began her spell. She bowled with air. She bowled with drift. Most importantly, she bowled with belief. Marizanne Kapp walked in at No. 4. She never settled. King saw to that. One wrong read of length and Kapp’s stumps were a mess. Chloe Tryon missed a straight one. Sune Luus edged behind. Then came the collapse. King shredded the middle order like paper.

She finished with 7/18, which is a record in the Women’s World Cup. Australia did not even need all 50 overs to roll South Africa. They did it in 24 overs.

South Africa looked unsure from the start. Their body language told a story before the wickets even came. They hesitated calling singles. Apart from Wolvaardt, who fought a lonely fight, the rest of the top order folded. Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta showed brief resistance, but King silenced every attempt to rebuild.

Today, South Africa’s batting lacked intent. They waited for Australia to make mistakes. Australia made none. Against this team, waiting is surrender.

Chases under 100 rarely bite Australia. Annabel Sutherland played a winning shot. She scored an unbeaten 10 of 4 balls. Beth Mooney remains the top-scorer with 42 (41 balls). Australia reached 98/3 in 16.5 overs. Just another day of control. That’s how champions move.

Australia now carries momentum and intimidation. They top the group table with authority. Next stop: a semi-final showdown with India.

South Africa limped away from this defeat. Their campaign showed promise, but this collapse came at the worst time. They had no answers for quality spin. No backup plan. No fight after the early blows. Australia had everything.

Verdict

This was not just a match. It was a message.

• To India: Prepare.
• To the world: Australia still owns this stage.
• To Alana King: Welcome to the history books.