6:37pm That will be all from us for today. If you missed out on any of the action, Alan's report should have you covered. We will be back tomorrow with a double-header and would love your company then as well. Until then, from Alan, Ranjith, Sudeep and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye!
Tahlia McGrath, Australia captain: That was good fun. How good was she (King)?! That was pretty awesome. Get the ball in her hands, something was going to happen. Felt like every ball was going to be a wicket. Super happy for her. She broke a lot of records, and really special performance. (On Wolvaardt's fast start) We stuck with them (our pacers), tweaked our plans a little. We were getting dots but leaking boundaries. Stayed nice and calm, and they both (Schutt and Garth) pulled it back well and took crucial wickets. (On getting King on soon) She is a bit of an X-Factor at this World Cup. As soon as the powerplay was done, had a conversation with Ash (to get King on early). Plan was to bat with intent. So that was the plan going in. Few early wickets but the way Voll and Mooney batted, it was pretty good. Awesome to get the job done and nice to walk away with a bit of momentum. (On if they are happy facing India at Navi Mumbai) Yeah, absolutely. Have played a lot at that ground and against India. Knockout game, you have to be on. Qualifying, job one done, now to job two - the knockouts.
Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa captain: Not the way we would have wanted to end the group stage. Did not have runs. Done a lot of good in the tournament, will focus on that going into the semis. Did not think it was the worst thing in the world (to be batting first). It was something we did want to practice. Last time did not go so well (against England). It was a decent track to bat on. She (King) bowled beautifully. Feel like I am timing it well. Try to forget about today a little and just focus on the good we have been doing. (On different players standing up throughout the World Cup) Very nice. Real team effort. Nice to see different batters and bowlers put their hands up. Hopefully we can have one or two of them putting their hands up (in the semi-final). That game (against England)…wanted to put it behind us as quickly as possible, trying to learn as much as possible. Think similar from today's game. Analyze what we could have done better. Maybe good for us to wake up a little bit. (On facing England in Guwahati again) Cannot control that sort of thing. Used to a semi-final against them in 50-over World Cups, hopefully we can come out on top this time.
Alana King, Player of the Match: (On if the conditions were similar to the England game) I think so, a little bit. Expected it to slide on a little bit with a bit of the drizzle. Just happy to extract as much as I can out of the wicket. As a bowler, you always love wickets. I can play a different role. If that is holding down one end, and then the other bowlers coming on to take wickets. Happy to play any role, as long as I am playing my role for Australia and that puts us in a good position. (On some balls turning more than others) Natural variation as well. Trying to give it a rip every ball. Some are going to hit the leather and slide on, some will hit the stitching and seam, they might spin. As long as they are coming out of my hand (well), that is only thing I can control. Not going to reinvent the wheel, just keep on doing (what I am doing) and take it from there.
6:19pm Well, this lasted a little longer than SA's opening group game against England, but might hurt just as much, especially with a semi-final on the horizon. They did not have many to play with and even though they removed Litchfield and Perry early, that only acted as consolatory wickets, rather than being a catalyst for a turnaround.
Australia, ideally, would have wanted Litchfield and Perry to get a few more, but Voll and Mooney quickly shut the door on South Africa. Voll finished unbeaten, with Sutherland also looking in good touch for the four balls she spent out there. A victory that was never in doubt after King's regal spell, and Australia will head into their semi-final in Navi Mumbai high on confidence.
