Perry’s good fortune unsettles England

A FREAKISH Ellyse Perry caught-and-bowled brought Australia back into the crucial pink-ball women’s Ashes Test at North Sydney Oval.

Perry (2-48) claimed two scalps with the second new ball under lights, after England had repeatedly threatened to take full control of the Test but finished the day at 7-235.

It was a fortunate caught-and-bowled of England star Sarah Taylor that changed the tide of the contest in front of a crowd of 2805.

With England in control at 5-226, Taylor nailed a drive back at Perry in her follow through on 29.

The ball rebounded off Perry’s non-bowling arm as it was by her side and bounced on to her chest, before she took the catch to send a mystified Taylor on her way.

It came after she had looked most comfortable against the second new pink ball under lights, whacking four boundaries in the first six overs after it was introduced.

The wicket left Perry in stitches and exposed England’s lower order late on the opening day as Australia aims to wrap up the series.

Katherine Brunt then fell to debutante Tahlia McGrath (2-35) to give her a second wicket, before Fran Wilson and Anya Shrubsole held on until stumps. Perry had also earlier claimed the wicket of Georgia Elwiss (27) when she tried to pull the Australian allrounder but only succeeded in skying the ball to square leg.

Earlier, spinners Jess Jonnasen (2-52) and debutant Amanda Wellington (1-56) claimed the key wickets of Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont after they put on a 104-run second wicket partnership.