The Proteas Women fell to Australia by seven wickets in their final ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 round-robin match in Indore on Saturday.
South Africa were dismissed for 97 all out in their 24 overs, thanks to Alana King’s return from seven for 18, before Georgia Voll (38*) and Beth Mooney (42) helped the Aussies to victory with 33.1 overs remaining.
After losing the toss, the Proteas were asked to bat first in overcast conditions at the Holkar Stadium. Captain Laura Wolvaardt (31) and Tazmin Brits (6) gave South Africa a steady start, taking the score to 32/0 by the seventh before the Proteas Women lost a string of wickets.
Megan Schutt (1/21) and Kim Garth (1/21) removed the opening hitters before King’s leg-spin took center stage. The 29-year-old claimed four quick wickets without conceding a run, dismissing Suné Luus (6), Marizanne Kapp (0), Annerie Dercksen (5) and Chloé Tryon (0), reducing South Africa to 60/6 in the 16th over.
Sinalo Jafta briefly resisted, scoring a personal best 29 from 17 deliveries, before becoming King’s fifth victim of the day. King, backed by Ashleigh Gardner (1/19), helped wrap up the Proteas innings for just 97 runs after 24 overs.
The Proteas Women defended a modest target of 98 and started brightly with the ball. Kapp (1/11) made an early breakthrough by finding Phoebe Litchfield’s lead (5) before Nadine de Klerk took a brilliant catch at point off the bowling of Masabata Klaas (1/14) to dismiss Ellyse Perry (0) and leave Australia 11/2 early.
Opener Voll then found solid support from the experienced Mooney. The pair leveled the chase with a composed partnership of 76 runs, taking Australia to 87/2 in the 16th over and within touching distance of victory.
Voll and Mooney needed just 11 more runs and looked set to see Australia at home before de Klerk (1/13) took a consolation wicket and removed Mooney. However, the defending champions comfortably reached the target and sealed a seven-wicket victory.
South Africa will now take on England in the first semi-final at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, October 29, with the match kicking off at 3pm local time (11.30am SAST).
Proteas Women’s Team – 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Traveling reserve
Miané Smit (Fidelity Titans)
Match Schedule – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Wednesday October 29 at 11:30 am – South Africa vs England (ACA Stadium, Guwahati)
Thursday, October 30 at 11:30 am – India vs Australia (Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai)
Sunday November 2 at 11:30 am – Final (Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai)
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