Ellyse Perry's epic three-ball masterstroke stuns Kiwi batter
Australian star Ellyse Perry has shown off with the ball by setting up the dismissal of New Zealand batter Lauren Down in stunning fashion.
Chasing a target of 242 to win the first match of the ODI series, the White Ferns were ticking along at 2-44 after nine overs.
But when Perry came on to bowl her fifth over she took down a set batter with relative ease.
Down, on 15 runs at the time, let two outswingers fly through to Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy.
Enter Perry’s masterstroke.
After the two outswingers were bowled from close to the stumps, Perry shifted wide and sent the ball crashing through Down’s defence and into the off stump.
Chasing 242 for victory, New Zealand were on track for victory after cruising to 4-188, needing 54 runs from the final 53 balls.
But Australian spinner Jess Jonassen put the brakes on the Kiwis’ victory bid, finishing with figures of 4-43 off 10 overs to help drag her side over the line.
Jonassen snared the key scalps of Katie Perkins (48) and Amy Satterthwaite (92) as NZ finished at 9-236.
New Zealand needed seven runs off the final two balls, but couldn’t get the job done.
The result gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The White Ferns haven’t won the Rose Bowl Trophy since 1999, and that drought will extend to a 20th year if they can’t beat Australia in Adelaide on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Meg Lanning fell victim to a stunning catch as Australia were bowled out for 241 in their ODI clash with New Zealand at the WACA Ground.
Rachael Haynes, who was promoted to open in the absence of Nicole Bolton, made 67 off 80 balls on a green-topped deck.
But the rest of Australia’s high-profile top and middle order failed to fire, with the home side registering their lowest ODI score since 2016
Kiwi captain Amy Satterthwaite provided the highlight of the innings with her spectacular one-handed catch at slip to remove Lanning for six.
Satterthwaite could hardly believe her luck after quickly moving her hand to her right and plucking the flying ball off the bowling of debutant Rosemary Mair.
Alyssa Healy (four), Ellyse Perry (six), and Beth Mooney (13) were other high-profile Australian batters to fail.
Australia slumped to 5-125 in the 29th over.
But solid knocks from Ashleigh Gardner (34 off 36 balls) and Jess Jonassen (36 off 32) ensured Australia batted out most of their overs.
Star Kiwi allrounder Sophie Devine finished with 3-32 from her 10 overs, while right-arm quick Lea Tahuhu (1-36) and Mair (2-35) set the tone early.
Australian speedster Nicola Carey was ruled out of the match with a back injury, but hopes to play in Sunday’s second ODI in Adelaide.
with AAP
