White Ferns fall short in clash of big guns
Australia has proved too strong for the White Ferns, cruising to a fivewicket win in their Women’s Cricket World Cup encounter in Bristol yesterday.
Chasing 220 for victory in Bristol after New Zealand elected to bat first, Australia was at 143-2 with captain Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry in cruise control, before 16-year-old star Amelia Kerr grabbed two wickets in as many balls for the White Ferns.
The legspinner had the dangerous Lanning caught behind on 48, before Elyse Villani strode out for her first bat of the tournament, and was sent back immediately for a golden duck after losing her off bail. Perry kept a cool head for the most part and finished with 71.
Sophie Devine looked to have caught Perry earlier on in what was an otherwise chanceless innings, but sportingly indicated the ball had fallen short of her grasp.
Earlier, captain Suzie Bates (51) and Katie Perkins (52) made halfcenturies but failed to capitalise on their starts as the White Ferns were held to 219.
Bates said the total was never quite enough. ‘‘Scoring 220 against a quality Australian side isn’t quite good enough. I was really pleased with how we finished with the bat and it kept us in the game, but we really needed 250.’’
Jess Jonassen trapped Bates lbw, before Perkins was controversially run out attempting a second run on Megan Schutt’s rocket of an arm from fine leg.
She was caught narrowly short of her ground just as she was threatening to launch a late assault on the Australian bowlers. She appeared impeded twice at the non-striker’s end by quick bowler Ellyse Perry, and threw her hands in the air in protest immediately after being dismissed by the square leg umpire.
In Perry’s defence, she simply held her position, forcing Perkins to run around her, which she has every right to do.
Perkins hadn’t seen a replay when asked about the incident in her post-match press conference, but said her coach, Haidee Tiffen, told her there wasn’t much in it. ‘‘Perry just held her line. ‘‘On reflection, she was bowling around the wicket and I’m probably just not used to having a bowler still on that side of the wicket, so when I’ve turned to come back she was still there and I didn’t have time to move and she obviously hadn’t.
‘‘It was frustrating and in the moment I was pretty annoyed, but that’s cricket.’’
Australia remain equal top of the World Cup standings with India, while South Africa are half a game off in third spot.