T20 World Cup: Ellyse Perry powers Australia into semi‑finals

Ellyse Perry produced a composed, match‑defining performance to guide Australia into the T20 World Cup semi‑finals after a commanding six‑wicket victory over India at Lord’s. The 35‑year‑old struck a polished 56, her second consecutive half‑century, and shared a century stand with Ash Gardner, who finished unbeaten on 53 as Australia chased 170 with six balls to spare. Perry said batting second helped her assess conditions, allowing her and Gardner to target early deliveries in each over to maintain momentum. India, missing injured spinner Shreyanka Patil, struggled to contain Australia’s acceleration in front of a packed crowd.

The win preserved Australia’s perfect record and set up a semi‑final clash with the West Indies at The Oval, a decade after the Caribbean side stunned them in the 2016 final. Perry noted that recent meetings between the teams make this encounter a clean slate, with no favourites and plenty of dangerous players on both sides.