Adelaide: Ellyse Perry’s maiden century and a five-wicket haul to Jess Jonassen ensured Australia retain their 20-year one-day international dominance in the Rose Bowl encounter with New Zealand, sealing a 95-run victory at Karen Rolton Oval with a game to spare.
Perry anchored the innings for Australia after they were sent in by New Zealand, guiding her side to 247 for seven. Defending what seemed a below-par total, left-arm spinner Jonassen, who had taken four wickets in the first game, took a career-best 5/27 from her eight overs as she rattled the middle and lower order to bowl New Zealand out for 152 under 38 overs.
With New Zealand opener Sophie Devine and captain Amy Satterthwaite in the middle, it seemed their partnership would steer the visitors to level the series 1-1. However, Jonassen provided the much-needed breakthrough as she trapped Devine for 47. Later, brilliant fielding from Elyse Villani led to run out Satterthwaite for 37 before the visitors slid to 119 for six.
Jonassen then cleaned up the lower order as she bowled out Anna Peterson cheaply for two while sent Amelia Kerr (7) and Lea Tahuhu (0) back in consecutive balls.
Earlier, Perry blazed an unbeaten 107 off 110 balls. On 97 runs, with two balls left in the innings, she swung the ball in the deep which was nearly caught but raced to the boundary. Off a full-toss on the last ball, Perry wrapped up her memorable innings with a six.
As Rachael Haynes and Australia captain Meg Lanning departed in quick succession, Perry stitched a 98-run stand for the fourth wicket with Beth Mooney (42) before New Zealand’s leg spinner Amelia Kerr took three wickets in the name of Mooney, Villani and Ashleigh Gardner in the 42nd over. However, Jonassen’s 19-ball 16 helped Australia push the total, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead and grabbing two more ICC Women’s Championship points.
Brief scores: Australia Women 247/7 (Perry 107*, Healy 46, Mooney 42, Kerr 3-30) beat New Zealand 152 (Devine 47, Jonassen 5-27) by 95 runs.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]