Experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who had a seven-game drought without an ODI wicket, has finally returned in form.
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Experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who had a seven-game drought without an ODI wicket, has finally returned in form. At Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday (February 6), Perry led Australia‘s dominant bowling performance with the figures of 3 for 12. England, who were hoping to level the Ashes series on points, were bundled out for a mere 129 – a target Australia chased down within 36 overs, with Perry top-scoring with 40 as well.
Meg Lanning‘s decision to bowl first worked in their favour when Ellyse Perry had removed Tammy Beaumont caught brilliantly by Alyssa Healy very early. It was a stunning fielding effort from the hosts, with captain Lanning herself grabbing a stunner at slip, later on, to remove Danny Wyatt as well.
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Despite the early loss of their opener, England scored 40 runs at the end of the PowerPlay before Alana King trapped Laura Winfield-Hill before the stumps. The legspinner did well along with the veteran Jess Jonassen and they restricted England through the middle overs, giving away only 48 runs from 19 combined overs for three wickets between them. Meanwhile, Nat Sciver and Heather Knight both got out to the left-arm spinner.
Ellyse Perry once again was brought back into the attack in the 24th over and immediately removed Sophia Dunkley and Charlotte Dean while Tahlia McGrath claimed three more in just 3.2 overs. That saw England get out for 129 where Sophie Ecclestone remained unbeaten on 32.
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However, Australia didn’t have a great start in the chase and their top-order too struggled to get going. Rachael Haynes and Lanning fell within six balls whereas the latter got out for a duck, to leave Australia reduced to 18 for 2. That soon became 49 for 3 when Alyssa Healy fell to Sciver. Ellyse Perry (40) then steadied the ship with McGrath before ran-out for 40. But her stable knock helped her side to win the game as Ashleigh Gardner took the team over the line and won the Ashes series as well
Brief scores: England 129 in 45.3 overs (Sophie Ecclestone32; Tahlia McGrath 3-4, Ellyse Perry 3-12) lost to Australia 131/5 in 35.2 overs (Ellyse Perry 40, Ashleigh Gardner 35; Kate Cross 2-46) by five wickets.
