That last game in Taunton is really important to us: Ellyse Perry

Ellyse Perry. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Like the Men’s Ashes, the Women’s Ashes has also been a cliffhanger with the pendulum swinging unpredictably in every encounter. After winning the one-off Test and the first T20I, Alyssa Healy’s women lost three matches on the trot. By virtue of their small yet significant winning streak, England managed to level the points at 6-6. However, on Sunday, July 16, the defending champions defeated the home side in the second ODI by three runs to go 8-6 up, hence retaining the Women’s Ashes.

England can now draw the Ashes at best by winning the third and final ODI in Taunton on Tuesday, July 18. However, talismanic Aussie all-rounder Ellyse Perry said that her team is determined to win the Ashes by securing a victory in the last game. She also mentioned that her team is yet to play their perfect game thus far.

“That last game in Taunton is really important to us because I think a few of us have been involved in campaigns where we’ve retained the Ashes, but it’s always nice to win the Ashes so it’s a good challenge for us. It’s the last game so everyone has that in their sights,” Perry was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo on Sunday.

“We’ve also probably been chasing a complete performance from the group and that hasn’t come yet. We’ve played patches of really good cricket and today, the way that we fought the whole way through and wrestled back momentum at different stages is one of our better outings on this trip, but I think there’s still a really great opportunity for us to play to our potential. That’s a great carrot and, as I said, to win the Ashes rather than retain them,” Perry concluded.

Ellyse Perry’s knock laid platform for Australia’s finishers

Ellyse Perry played a brilliant knock of 91 runs in 124 balls and anchored Australia’s innings after Heather Knight invited the visitors to bat first. The 32-year-old hit nine boundaries and a six during her crucial innings.

Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham played enterprising knocks, in the end, to capitalise on the foundation laid by Perry, and took Australia to 282/7 in their 50 overs. In reply, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed an unbeaten 99-ball 111 but failed to take England beyond the finishing line. The hosts agonisingly fell short by just three runs.