Ellyse Perry in doubt for Australia's cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh with back soreness

Australia are passing every test on the road to regaining the World Cup, continuing their dominance in New Zealand with a five-wicket win over South Africa to stay unbeaten.

The win over the Proteas was Australia's sixth in succession and they will finish their group stage campaign against Bangladesh on Friday.

In their six wins, Meg Lanning's side has won in all manner of ways.

They have won setting and they have won chasing.

They have won the toss and done it on their terms, they have lost it and responded to the challenge.

They have found match-winners among their pace attack and spinners, and each of the top five bats has posted a half-century.

At this point, it might be a better question to ask what is going to stop Australia, rather than whether they can do it.

«It certainly hasn't been easy,» Meg Lanning insisted, fresh from 97 against India and 135 not out against South Africa.

«Teams come hard at us, they get up when they play against us and we're ready for that, to absorb a bit of pressure and then push back when we need to.

»It's been a very challenging tournament so far and we're expecting that to happen into the semi-finals as well."

Injuries and unavailability might be one cloud over Australia regaining the World Cup, ceded to England five years ago.

COVID-19 remains a spectre, with New Zealand continuing to record around 20,000 new cases a day during its worst outbreak of the pandemic.

And doubts now surround Ellyse Perry, who complained of back soreness and left the field after bowling three overs against South Africa.

Perry was not required to bat and will be put in cotton wool with bigger matches looming.

«We'll manage her over the next few days,» Lanning said.

«Whether she's available for the next game, I'm not too