Ellyse Perry stars for Australia with a solid all-round display

Australia Women handed India Women a 101-run thrashing in the first ODI in Canberra. The home side, opting to bat, rode on a 180-run stand for the third wicket between Alex Blackwell and Ellyse Perry. Blackwell played brilliantly with a 112-ball 114 with 12 fours while Perry made 90 off 118 balls. Their efforts lifted Australia to a competitive 276 for 6.

Jhulan Goswami gave India their first breakthrough with just 24 runs on the board. However, after the early loss of a wicket, Perry anchored the team to a position of strength. After the departure of Meg Lanning 39 runs later, the all-rounder found an able ally in Blackwell. While Blackwell took the attack to the India bowlers, Perry milked the attack and looked determined to hold up one end. When Rajeshwari Gayakwad eventually ended the stand, the pair had taken Australia to 243 in the 46th over. And a couple of overs later, Perry was cleaned up by Shikha Pandey with the hosts on 254.

Perry then returned to claim both the Indian openers. The all-rounder had MD Thirushkamini run out and then accounted for Punam Raut. Facing a mammoth total, India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. While captain Mithali Raj was trapped in front by Jess Jonassen, Perry accounted for the middle-order including the key wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur to push India further into a corner.

With Perry picking three wickets in the middle and effecting two run outs, India was reeling at 153 for eight, when the pacer claimed Goswami as her fourth scalp in the game. Grace Harris and Megan Schutt then wrapped up the Indian innings with 19 balls to spare.

Brief scores:      

Australia women: 276/6 in 50 overs (A Blackwell 114, E Perry 90; S Pandey 3/32)

India women: 175/10 in 46.5 overs (H Kaur 42; E Perry 4/44)

Player of the match: Alex Blackwell (Australia)