Perry saves Australia before Wareham gives them a hope

Scott Bailey | July 17, 2023

Ellyse Perry has given Australia some hope of retaining the Ashes in Southampton after rescuing her side from an early collapse and taking them to 7-282 in the second ODI.

Desperate to snap a three-game losing streak and keep the Ashes in their grasp, Australia slumped to 2-27 and 4-102 early against a buoyant England team.

Perry was Australia’s saviour, scoring a well controlled 91 before perishing in the deep to Sophie Ecclestone in the dying overs.

Georgia Wareham then slammed 26 off the final over from Lauren Bell, leaving England to pull off the second highest chase in women’s ODI history.

But it was Perry who had the biggest impact.

Her knock formed part of an 56-run stand with Ashleigh Gardner, as well as 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Annabel Sutherland (50 off 47).

With one more match to play and the multi-format series level at 6-6, victory in Southampton will ensure Australia retain the Ashes and give them hope of winning the series outright.

An England win would otherwise keep the hosts dream of coming back from 6-0 down alive, and leave it all on the line in Tuesday’s final ODI in Taunton.

At times on Sunday morning, it looked as if Australia were destined for their fourth straight loss.

Phoebe Litchfield was out in the second over when she was trapped lbw by Bell (3-85), before Alyssa Healy hit the seamer straight to short third on 13.

Beth Mooney was also out sweeping a ball down legside off Sophie Ecclestone, before Tahlia McGrath tried to cut legspinner Sophie Glenn and was caught behind for five.

At that stage, Australia were rolling towards a cheap score.

But Perry ensured her side had something to bowl at, playing nicely down the ground and at one stage hitting Ecclestone for six back over her own head.

Australia’s veteran looked set for another hundred before she was out trying to take Ecclestone (3-40) on again, before Sutherland fell in the same over after her maiden ODI half-century.

A concern for England was a calf injury suffered by Kate Cross, who was hurt dropping Perry on 63.