The Holkar Stadium in Indore witnessed something truly special on Saturday afternoon. What everyone expected to be a thrilling top-of-the-table clash between Australia and South Africa turned into a one-sided masterclass, thanks to an incredible bowling performance that will be remembered for years to come.
A Match That Decided Everything
Going into this game, both teams knew exactly what was at stake. Australia sat at the top of the table with 11 points, having won all their matches so far. South Africa was right behind them with 10 points, also playing brilliant cricket throughout the tournament. The winner would secure the top spot and earn a semifinal match against India in Navi Mumbai, while the losing team would travel to Guwahati to face England.
This wasn’t just another league game. This was about momentum, confidence, and choosing your semifinal opponent. Both teams wanted that top spot badly, and the atmosphere at the stadium reflected the importance of what was about to unfold.
The day before the match, the practice sessions told their own story. Chloe Tryon was hitting balls inside out from the practice nets while Marizanne Kapp was taking high catches on the other side of the ground. These two players had been heroes when South Africa won their only ODI against Australia earlier in 2024, ending a streak of 16 consecutive losses. They hoped to repeat that magic, but cricket can be unpredictable.
The Pitch and Conditions
The groundsmen prepared a fresh black-soil pitch for this important match. A day before the game, the pitch had many barren patches and very little grass on it. Indore’s weather was hot and humid, though there were predictions of afternoon thunderstorms. However, just like the previous match, the rain stayed away and the players battled under the hot sun.
These conditions can be tricky. The ball can skid on when there’s moisture in the air, making batting difficult if you don’t watch carefully. Both teams knew they needed to adapt quickly to whatever the pitch offered.
Australia’s Bowling Masterclass Begins
When South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first, they probably felt confident about posting a good score. Their captain Laura Wolvaardt came out with attacking intent, and within the first six overs, she had already hit seven beautiful boundaries. She was in such good form that she smashed four boundaries in a single over from Megan Schutt, including three gorgeous drives through the off-side.
Wolvaardt looked unstoppable, and South Africa fans watching around the world must have felt excited about their team’s chances. But cricket changes quickly, and that’s exactly what happened.
Wolvaardt, trying to continue her aggressive approach, miscued a shot off Schutt. The ball went high in the air, and Alana King ran in from short mid-wicket, diving forward to complete a brilliant catch. Suddenly, South Africa’s best batter was walking back to the pavilion after scoring 31 runs.
Soon after, Tazmin Brits also fell, caught by Kim Garth after a slow innings of just 6 runs from 19 balls. South Africa’s strong start was beginning to crumble, and they were in trouble at 43 for 4.
Alana King’s Historic Performance
What happened next will go down in cricket history. Alana King, the Australian leg-spinner, produced a bowling spell so good that people will talk about it for decades. She wasn’t just taking wickets – she was ripping through South Africa’s batting lineup like a hot knife through butter.
King’s first victim was Sune Luus, who tried to hit a big shot but only managed to give an easy catch to Annabel Sutherland at mid-on. Four balls later, King fooled Marizanne Kapp with a beautiful delivery wide outside off-stump. Kapp misjudged the flight of the ball and hit it straight to a fielder. South Africa was falling apart.
The South African batters kept trying to fight back. Sinalo Jafta showed some courage, hitting three boundaries off Annabel Sutherland in one over to score 29 runs before she too fell to King. But every time South Africa tried to build a partnership, King struck again.
In the 16th over, King bowled two absolute beauties. First, she clean bowled Annerie Dercksen, hitting the off stump perfectly. Then, with the very next ball, she got Chloe Tryon caught at mid-wicket for a golden duck – that means Tryon got out without scoring any runs at all.
King wasn’t finished yet. She continued bowling with amazing accuracy and clever variations, making it impossible for the South African batters to score freely or survive. When she finally finished her spell, the scoreboard told an incredible story: 7 wickets for just 18 runs in 7 overs.
This was history in the making. King’s 7 for 18 became the best bowling figures ever by any bowler in a Women’s World Cup match. It was also the best performance ever by an Australian bowler in women’s ODI cricket. She had single-handedly destroyed South Africa’s innings, and the entire cricket world was watching in amazement.
South Africa’s entire team was bowled out for only 97 runs in just 24 overs. This was a shockingly low score, especially for a team that had been playing so well throughout the tournament.
Australia’s Chase Wasn’t Smooth Initially
Chasing just 98 runs should have been easy for Australia, one of the strongest batting teams in world cricket. But South Africa’s bowlers gave them a tough fight at the start, showing that they weren’t going to give up without trying everything.
Marizanne Kapp, one of the best all-rounders in women’s cricket, bowled three consecutive maiden overs – that means she didn’t allow Australia to score a single run for 18 balls. Her tight bowling created pressure, and soon she got the breakthrough. Phoebe Litchfield, one of Australia’s young opening batters, was dismissed for just 5 runs.
Things got even more interesting when the great Ellyse Perry walked out to bat. Perry is one of cricket’s biggest names with years of experience, but she was out for a duck – zero runs. Masabata Klaas took the catch, and suddenly Australia was in a bit of trouble at a low score with two wickets down.
For a few moments, it looked like South Africa might create a miracle. But the target was just too small to defend, no matter how well they bowled.
Mooney and Voll Finish the Job
Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll came together and decided to end any hopes South Africa had of an unlikely comeback. They batted sensibly, picking their scoring opportunities carefully and not taking unnecessary risks.
Mooney, who is one of Australia’s most reliable batters, played beautifully. She scored 42 runs from 41 balls, hitting six lovely boundaries. Her experience showed as she guided Australia closer and closer to the target without any panic.
Georgia Voll, batting with Mooney, also played well and remained unbeaten on 33 runs. Together, they added 76 runs for the third wicket, making sure Australia didn’t lose any more wickets unnecessarily.
When Mooney finally got out, caught by captain Laura Wolvaardt off Nadine de Klerk’s bowling, Australia needed just 11 more runs. Annabel Sutherland came in and finished the match quickly with some powerful shots, including two boundaries in an over, before hitting the winning runs.
Australia won by 7 wickets with 199 balls remaining – that means they finished the match with more than 33 overs to spare. It was a complete and dominant victory.
What This Result Means for Both Teams
With this win, Australia finished the league stage on top of the table, unbeaten throughout the tournament. They will now travel to Navi Mumbai to face India in the semifinal on October 30. This is a huge match because India will have home support, and the Indian team has been playing excellent cricket.
South Africa, despite losing this match, still made it to the semifinals. They will face England in Guwahati on October 29. Interestingly, England beat South Africa earlier in this tournament, so this semifinal gives South Africa a chance to take revenge and prove they’ve learned from that loss.
South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt spoke honestly after the match. She said they didn’t finish the group stage the way they wanted, but they would focus on all the positive things they did throughout the tournament. She praised Alana King’s exceptional bowling and said the team had different players stepping up in different matches, which made them strong.
Alana King’s Magical Day
After the match, Alana King was named Player of the Match – an award she completely deserved. When asked about her incredible performance, she explained that the conditions reminded her of the England game, where the ball was expected to slide through after some drizzle.
King said she loves taking wickets and is happy to play any role for Australia, whether it’s controlling one end of the bowling or attacking and taking wickets. She talked about how some deliveries naturally behave differently because of how the ball hits the leather or stitching, but her focus remains on controlling what she can – bowling good deliveries.
What made King’s performance even more special was her approach. She didn’t try to do anything too complicated. She just stuck to her game plan and executed it perfectly. This is a lesson for all cricketers – sometimes simple plans, done really well, can produce amazing results.
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
Australian captain Tahlia McGrath praised King’s performance, saying she was almost unstoppable with the ball. McGrath was happy with how her team stayed calm even when Wolvaardt was scoring freely at the start. They adjusted their plans, took important wickets, and controlled the game.
McGrath also mentioned being pleased with the batting intent shown by her team, particularly the partnership between Voll and Mooney. However, she will be slightly concerned about Ellyse Perry’s form. Perry has been struggling to score runs lately, and this is something Australia needs to fix before the semifinal against India.
For South Africa, this loss will hurt, but they’ve shown throughout the tournament that they can bounce back from difficult situations. Earlier in the competition, they chased down 252 against India after being 81 for 5, and then chased 233 against Bangladesh from 78 for 5. This team has character and fighting spirit.
The semifinal against England will be tough, but South Africa knows they can beat any team on their day. They have match-winners throughout their lineup – batters like Wolvaardt, Brits, Luus, and Kapp, and bowlers who can trouble any batting order.
The Bigger Picture
This match reminded everyone why Australia has dominated women’s cricket for so many years. They have world-class players in every position, and when someone like Alana King produces a match-winning performance, they become almost impossible to beat.
The Women’s World Cup has been fantastic so far, with close matches, individual brilliance, and teams pushing each other to higher standards. The semifinals promise to be even more exciting, with four excellent teams battling for a place in the final.
For cricket fans in India, the semifinal between India and Australia at Navi Mumbai will be must-watch television. India will have the entire country supporting them, while Australia brings their unbeaten record and confidence from dominating performances like this one.
Saturday’s match at Indore will be remembered mostly for Alana King’s historic bowling figures. She joined an elite list of cricketers who have produced truly special individual performances in World Cup matches. Her 7 for 18 is a record that might stand for many years, a testament to her skill, control, and ability to perform under pressure when it mattered most.