Perry century foundation for Australian win
ADELAIDE: Ellyse Perry clubbed her maiden oneday international century to inspire Australia to a seriesclinching 95run win against New Zealand.
Perry’s majestic unbeaten 107 from 110 balls underpinned Australia’s 247 for seven at Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval yesterday.
In reply, New Zealand crashed to 152 all out, after Perry struck an early blow with the ball and spinner Jess Jonassen took a careerbest five for 27.
The victory gives Australia an unassailable 20 lead in the bestofthree series which concludes next Sunday in Melbourne and it extends Australia’s twodecade dominance over the Kiwis — they have not lost a ODI series to New Zealand since February 1999.
Perry had previously made four ODI scores in the 90s — three of them not outs.
And reaching the milestone on Sunday was a nearthing: with two balls left in the innings, Perry was on 97.
The righthander thumped a lofted drive which was dropped at deep midon by Anna Peterson — the ball spilt through her hands and into the rope.
Perry then cracked a lastball six to boost an Australian total which also included handy knocks from Alyssa Healy, who was dropped twice in making 46 from 75 balls, and Beth Mooney (42 from 52 balls).
Perry and Mooney combined for a defining 98run partnership for the fourth wicket which ended in a dramatic 42nd over, bowled by Kiwi legspinner Amelia Kerr.
Kerr had Mooney caught at midwicket, trapped Elyse Villani lbw for a duck two balls later and next ball, bowled Ashleigh Gardner for a golden duck with a wrong’un to capture three wickets in four balls.
Her hattrick ball in her next over was kept out by Perry, whose breakthrough ton came in her 102nd ODI and included eight fours and three sixes.
Perry took the new ball and dismissed the dangerous Suzie Bates (11) and returned one for five from her initial four overs. She finished with one for 15 from seven.
Sophie Devine (47 from 59 balls) and Amy Satterthwaite (37 from 54 deliveries) gave the visitors a sniff with a brisk 67run thirdwicket stand.
But Devine’s demise triggered a collapse and New Zealand lost its last eight wickets for 59 runs, with leftarm tweaker Jonassen the chief destroyer. — AAP