Ellyse Perry Leads Australia to Dominant Victory Over Pakistan

Australia 199 for 7 (Perry 71) beat Pakistan 86 (Molineux 2-6, Perry 2-9, Sutherland 2-12) by 113 runs

Ellyse Perry delivered one of her finest innings in a lengthy T20 World Cup career, guiding Australia to a fourth consecutive win and a 113‑run triumph over Pakistan.On a batting‑friendly surface on a bright summer evening at Headingley, Perry scored 71 off 48 balls, propelling her side to 199/7. The innings featured a century partnership for the second wicket with Georgia Voll, following an early wicket that saw Beth Mooney dismissed first ball.

Mooney endured a twice‑dislocated finger during Australia’s fielding spell yet continued to keep wicket as Pakistan lost wickets at a steady rate, including two dismissals by Perry in her opening over, finishing with figures of 2/9.

Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland each claimed two wickets, with Mooney and Sutherland effecting the final dismissal. Sadia Iqbal was caught behind on the first ball, and Pakistan were bowled out for 86, leaving six overs and two balls unused.

Perry keeps getting better

Having featured in all ten T20 World Cups, Perry was in top form, registering a half‑century for the first time in her 51st appearance at the tournament. She displayed class through precise footwork, impeccable gap selection, and punished short deliveries. Her six over a leaping long‑on from Rameen Shamim showcased a blend of elegance, timing, and power.

Prior to this innings, Perry’s best World Cup score was 42, achieved in a loss to New Zealand in Nagpur in 2016. Although her 71 fell short of her career‑best T20I scores of 75 and 72 not out — both made during Australia’s 2022 tour of India — it marked her first half‑century in the format since October 2023.

Pep in Pakistan’s step

Gull Feroza made a stunning one‑handed diving catch at slip to dismiss Mooney on the opening ball, providing an early boost for Pakistan. Mooney had recovered from back soreness that forced her to retire hurt on 74 not out against the Netherlands on Saturday, but her innings was brief this time; she poked at a Sadia Iqbal delivery outside off, angling in, and Feroza plucked the ball from the air and held it securely as she landed.

Perry, Voll take control

From there, Perry and Voll intensified the pressure on their opponents. Fatima Sana conceded 17 runs in the second over and Diana Baig, the experienced seamer playing her first tournament match, went for 19 off her first, including five wides as wicket‑keeper Muneeba failed to gather one down the leg side, and three boundaries as Perry hit her stride. By the end of the powerplay, Australia were 64 for 1, their best figure in that phase of the tournament.

Sandhu lifts Pakistan

Two wickets in three balls for Nashra Sandhu gave her side cause for celebration in the 10th over as Pakistan maintained their flawless start in the field. Voll looked to go down the ground but holed out to long‑off and Ash Gardner fell to a second‑ball duck chipping to cow corner. Pakistan continued to hold their catches as Georgia Wareham and Sutherland both fell to Shamim, the latter after a 44‑run stand with Perry. The key catch came when Pakistan reviewed after Perry gloved a Sana bouncer behind and, as the ball died on her, Muneeba slid forward and managed to get her gloves under the ball.

Bulletproof Beth

Mooney’s retirement in the previous match was described by the Australian camp as precautionary but her courage in Leeds on Tuesday night was impressive, continuing to keep wicket after having a dislocated finger put back in place not once, but twice.

Mooney was initially struck on the fingertips of her right hand while trying to stop a wide delivery from Kim Garth to Muneeba. With Mooney clearly in agony, medical staff realigned her finger and, amid the relief that followed, she donned the gloves again. She then had to have the same finger taped up when she was struck again reaching in vain to collect an edge from Muneeba. But again she carried on and was involved in five dismissals thereafter.

Run outs rack up for Pakistan

Muneeba clubbed the next ball for six over deep midwicket but either side of that strike, she had been involved in two run outs. The first was on a Mooney fumble trying to gather down the leg side and Muneeba belatedly sent back opening partner Feroza as Voll fired the ball back to Garth and the bowler flicked off the bails. It was a similar story when Ayesha Zafar pushed a Lucy Hamilton delivery towards cover and set off for a run, only to be sent back by Muneeba as Molineux threw the ball back to Mooney with Ayesha out of her ground.

Pakistan managed to reach 50 for 3 in the powerplay but the wickets continued to fall, not least to yet another shocking run out, Shamim hitting Molineux to mid‑on and getting more than halfway down the pitch before captain Sana sent her back, Voll’s throw to Mooney beating her by some distance.

Valkerie Baynes is a general editor, women’s cricket, at Cricinfo

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