Bowlers, Perry star in comprehensive Australia victory
Ellyse Perry’s 47*, Meg Lanning’s 41* and a rich haul by Delissa Kimmince (3/20) led Australia to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over England in the fifth Twenty20 International of the tri-nation series on Wednesday 28 March.
Lanning opted to field, and her bowlers responded exceptionally, bowling out the opposition for just 96 in 17.4 overs. The Australia captain then led the charge with the bat, putting on an 85-run partnership with Perry to take Australia to 97/2 in 11.3 overs.
Australia were 12/2 in the third over in the chase, after Natalie Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone had Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani dismissed. But Lanning and Perry took their time to get set before launching an all-out attack on the English bowlers. Perry’s 32-ball knock included nine fours, while Lanning hit eight boundaries in her 28-ball innings, including five in a row off Danielle Hazell in the sixth over.
Perry hit four boundaries off Jenny Gunn in the 10th over and finished the game in the 12th with consecutive fours off Hazell.
The victory ensured Australia head into the final on 31 March, against England again, with their confidence boosted.
England’s total of 96 was their third-lowest total in WT20Is. Only four England batters could get to double-figures, with Alice Davidson-Richardson finishing as their top scorer with a run-a-ball 24.
England were in trouble early on in their innings and found themselves at 40/5 within seven overs as all of Megan Schutt, Jess Jonassen, Perry, Kimmince and Amanda-Jade Wellington picked up a wicket each.
In-form England batter Danielle Wyatt was caught by Wellington in the fourth ball of the innings off Jonassen, and after a brief 22-run stand, Tammy Beaumont joined Wyatt in the pavilion after being caught behind off the bowling of Kimmince. Beaumont hit three fours in her 12-ball 17, but could not capitalise on the start.
Amy Jones, the wicket-keeper batter, and Sciver departed in quick succession thereafter, and when Heather Knight was trapped in front by Wellington for nought, England were in trouble having lost half their side with very little on the board.
Contributions from Fran Wilson, Jenny Gunn and Davidson-Richards helped England cross the 50-run mark and took them close to 100, but none of them could last long enough to take England to a competitive total.
Congratulations to Meg Lanning on becoming the first Australian, male or female, to reach 2,000 T20I runs! 👏 pic.twitter.com/thkVifAUda
— ICC (@ICC) March 28, 2018
Davidson-Richards was involved in two partnerships, adding 21 runs for the sixth wicket with Wilson and then 27 runs with Gunn, who walked in after Wilson was caught by Perry off Ashleigh Gardner.
After Gunn was dismissed, the tail collapsed in no time – only eight runs were added for the last three wickets.
Perry was named the Player of the Match for her all-round performance, having returned 1/25 in three overs to go with her big hitting at the top.
England take on India on 29 March in the final league game of the series.