Perry digs in as Aussie bats fall

AN unbeaten 70 from Ellyse Perry has kept Australia in the hunt after the second day of the women’s day-night Ashes Test at North Sydney Oval.

After Australia lost 3-13 midway through the second session and looked like collapsing, Perry helped resurrect the Aussies to 5-177 by stumps in reply to England’s 280.

However the home side’s cause was dealt a major blow late in the day, when captain Rachael Haynes was dismissed lbw for 33 to Katherine Brunt by a delivery that came back in at her in England’s first over with the second new pink ball. Alyssa Healy then helped see Australia through to stumps, in front of a crowd of 3613.

While Perry and Haynes found the boundary 16 times between them, their Australian teammates regularly became bogged down by England’s economical bowling.

It allowed teenage debutante Sophie Ecclestone (2-51) to wreak havoc midway through the second session, as she knocked over opener Beth Mooney (24) and then had veteran Alex Blackwell for just two. The 18-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner should have also had her third late in the day when she trapped Haynes in front on the sweep shot, but it was ruled not out.

Opener Nicole Bolton (24) and Elyse Villani also fell trying to up the tempo after slow periods, to Laura Marsh (1-28) and Anya Shrubsole (1-21) respectively.

Meanwhile Perry (3-59) had earlier yesterday combined with fellow quick Megan Schutt (2-52) to make light work of England’s lower order.

The visitors resumed on 7-235 after day one, but failed to go on with Thursday’s strong start as they eventually lost their last nine wickets for just 151 runs.