Dominant Perry guides Australia to easy win over Pakistan

Perry’s All-Round Master class Bat: 71 off 48 balls – her first T20 World Cup fifty in 51 appearances, and 10th overall. Six over long-on off Rameen Shamim described as “perfect blend of elegance, timing and power”Ball: 2-9 in one over – struck first ball to remove Muneeba Ali, then had Aliya Riaz caught behind Milestone: Became just the second woman to score 70+ and take 2+ wickets in a T20 World Cup game, after Marizanne Kapp.

On a batting-friendly pitch on a glorious summer evening at Headingley, Perry struck 71 off 48 balls to lead her side to 199 for 7, sharing a century partnership for the second wicket with Georgia Voll, after Pakistan had made an early breakthrough removing Beth Mooney first ball.

Mooney braved a twice dislocated finger during Australia's fielding innings to continue keeping wicket as Pakistan lost a steady stream of wickets, including two to Perry in her first over to finish with 2 for 9.

Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland also took two wickets each, Mooney and Sutherland combining for the last to fall, Sadia Iqbal caught behind for a first-ball duck as Pakistan were bowled out for just 86 with 6.2 overs to spare.

Early shock: Beth Mooney out first ball to Sadia Iqbal100-run stand: Perry + Georgia Voll added 100 for 2nd wicket. Australia reached 64/1 in powerplay, 100 in 9.1 overs. Perry’s fifty: Off 30 balls with seven fours and a six. Voll: 39 off 28 with seven fours before Nashra Sandhu broke the stand.

Top scorer: Muneeba Ali 32 off 25, lone resistance. Collapse: Lost regular wickets, 85/9 at final drinks break. Bowling: Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux and Perry took 2 wickets each. Result: Australia won by 113 runs – fourth straight win.

Before this innings, Perry's best score at a T20 World Cup was 42 in a losing cause to New Zealand in Nagpur in 2016, although her 71 fell short of her career best in T20Is of 75 and 72 not out, both scored on Australia's tour of India in 2022. It was her first fifty in the format since October 2023.

Introduced into the attack with Pakistan four wickets down in the 10th over, Perry struck first ball as Muneeba Ali sent a short one straight to midwicket and, with the last, she had Aliya Riaz caught behind.

Bottom line: On a perfect batting pitch at Headingley, Ellyse Perry delivered her best T20 World Cup performance – 71 with the bat and 2-9 with the ball – as Australia posted 199/7 and demolished Pakistan for 86. The 113-run win keeps the defending champs unbeaten and on track for the semis.