Most wickets taken by a player in a Women's Cricket World Cup match

On 25 October 2025, Australia leg-spinner Alana King produced the first-ever seven-for in Women’s Cricket World Cup history, helping herself to 7 for 18 from seven overs against South Africa at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. Four women – Glenys Page (6 for 20 for New Zealand vs. Trinidad & Tobago in 1973), Jackie Lord (6 for 10 for New Zealand vs. India in 1982), Anya Shrubsole (6 for 46 for England vs. India in 2017 – the most wickets taken by a player in a Women’s Cricket World Cup final) and Sophie Ecclestone (6 for 36 for England vs. South Africa in 2022) had previously taken six wickets in an innings at the Women’s Cricket World Cup, which was first contested in 1973.

King ruled the roost as the Proteas were skittled for just 97 runs in 24 overs, setting up a comfortable seven-wicket win for Australia (98 for 3) with 199 balls remaining. Both teams progressed to the semi-finals – against England and World Cup hosts India, respectively. King was just the sixth player – and first Australian - to bag seven wickets in a women’s One-Day International (ODI), after Jo Chamberlain (7 for 8 for England vs. Denmark in 1991), Sajjida Shah (7 for 4 for Pakistan vs. Japan in 2003 – the best figures in a women’s ODI), Shelley Nitschke (7 for 24 for Australia vs. England in 2005), Anisa Mohammed (7 for 14 for West Indies vs. Pakistan in 2011) and Ellyse Perry (7 for 22 for Australia vs. England in 2019). Compatriot Glenn McGrath (7 for 15 in seven overs vs. Namibia in 2003) conceded the fewest runs of the five men who have pouched seven wickets in a men’s World Cup match to date.