Australia seal top spot with thumping CWC25 win over Proteas

Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Voll sealed off a commanding seven-wicket win for Australia over South Africa as they finished atop the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 standings.

The result has now sealed the two semi-finals fixtures at the marquee tournament, featuring Australia, South Africa, England and India.

Earlier, Alana King wreaked havoc with the ball, notching the best-ever figures by a bowler at ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as Australia restricted South Africa to 97 in their top-of-the-table clash in Indore.

Coming in to bowl at the other side of the powerplay, King dismantled the Proteas middle order, nabbing a seven-wicket haul, first-ever for Australia women, to put the defending champions in firm control after they won the toss and elected to field first at the Holkar Stadium.

The leggie would get the better of Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Chloe Tryon, Masabata Klaas, and finally Nadine de Klerk.

Starting off the game, Megan Schutt clinched the all-important wicket of Laura Wolvaardt in her opening burst to provide Australia with an early breakthrough.

Soon after, Kim Garth removed Tazmin Brits to provide the defending champions with their second wicket in the powerplay during an important table-toppers contest.

With King trapping the Proteas in a tizzy with her tweakers, Ash Gardner also came into play with her spin, cleaning up Ayabonga Khaka to make it nine wickets for Australia.

But it was the star of the show, King, who wrapped up the innings by getting one through de Klerk to complete her seven-for.

Get your tickets now for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

After a magnificent bowling display and chasing their smallest target at the ongoing tournament, the defending champions lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay as the Proteas hit back with the ball.

Marizanne Kapp would break the deadlock by getting rid of Phoebe Litchfield in her opening spell. Meanwhile, Nadine de Klerk would hold on to an absolute stunner to send Ellyse Perry back in the hut off Masabata Klaas.

Beth Mooney (42) and Voll (38*) then steadied Australia's chase, stitching together 76 runs for the third wicket, all but wrapping up the game for the seven-time winners.

Annabel Sutherland would eventually hit the winning runs with 33.1 overrs to spare.

The win means Australia face India in the second semi-final on October 30 at Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, South Africa will lock horns with England at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.

Click here to read article