Best bowling figures at Women’s Cricket World Cup

INDORE, India (AP) — Wrist spinner Alana King took a record 7-18 as Australia thrashed South Africa by seven wickets in their final league game of the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Saturday.

King’s seven-over spell routed South Africa for just 97 runs in 24 overs, while Australia chased it down with 98-3 in only 16.5 overs.

It was the best-ever bowling spell at the Women’s Cricket World Cup — the first instance of a seven-wicket haul in tournament history.

King surpassed Jacqueline Lord’s 6-10 for New Zealand against India in 1982.

7-18 Alana King, Australia vs. South Africa, Indore, 2025

6-10 Jackie Lord, New Zealand vs. India, Auckland, 1982

6-20 Glenys Page, New Zealand vs. Trinidad and Tobago, St. Albans, 1973

6-36 Sophie Ecclestone, England vs. South Africa, Christchurch, 2022

6-46 Anya Shrubsole, England vs. India, London, 2017

Put into bat on a batter-friendly wicket, South Africa actually made a good start. Wolvaardt put on 32 with opener Tazmin Brits before the sudden slide began.

Megan Schutt got the breakthrough to send the skipper back, while Kim Garth bowled Brits for 6.

King then came on to bowl with the Proteas at 42-2 and they sank to 60-6 in the next six overs as she picked four wickets without conceding a run.

She started with a brace in the 12th over — Sune Luus was out caught for 6, while Marizanne Kapp was out for a four-ball duck.

King then took another couple of wickets in the 16th over, this time off successive balls — Annerie Dercksen was bowled, then Chloe Tryon was caught for a golden duck.

Denied a hat trick, King bowled Sinalo Jafta in the 18th over. Jafta scored 29 off 17 balls.

King then became the first Australian woman to pick six wickets in a Cricket World Cup — she bowled Masabata Klaas in the 20th over.

Nadine de Klerk scored 14 before she was bowled off King to end the Proteas’ innings. King overtook current teammate Ellyse Perry’s 7-22 (against England in 2019) to register Australia’s best bowling figures in women’s ODIs.