The Australia allrounder produced another match-winning performance on Sunday as she continues to go to the next level during the Women's Ashes series
Records continue to tumble for in-form Perry
Just when you think Ellyse Perry can’t find another level, she goes out and does it.
The impact the star Australia allrounder has had on this multi-format women’s Ashes was underlined on Sunday in Hove when she claimed a fourth Player of the Match award from six games across all three formats to date.
Each time, she’s been rewarded with a magnum of champagne for her efforts. It’s quite the collection the star allrounder is now carrying around with her.
In the midst of her latest heroics on Sunday, Perry became the first player, male or female, to score 1000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.
She brought up her 1000th run during her unbeaten knock of 47 off 39 deliveries in Australia’s seven-wicket over England win with a boundary, having already taken her 100th wicket during the World T20 last November.
"I guess it’s lovely, but I wasn’t aware of it," Perry – humble as ever – said when asked about her unique achievement.
"I have played a pretty big volume of games now.
"When you’ve played 100 games you might get close to it. That’s probably the only reason I’m there – because I’ve played a lot of games."
Australia have dominated every match of this series – and so too, largely, has Perry.
In the first ODI in Leicester, she took 3-43 as Australia claimed a nervy two-wicket win, before taking 7-22 in a stunning display, the best ever ODI figures by an Australian woman, in the third match in Canterbury.
In the second ODI she struck a match-high 62, but was pipped for best-on honours by teammate Delissa Kimmince who claimed a five-wicket haul.
She struck a century and an unbeaten 76 in the one-off Test in Taunton and while Meg Lanning stole the show with a hundred in the opening T20I, Perry again led the way in Hove on Sunday – sharing in an 87-run stand with her captain in a seven-wicket win.
"It has just been really nice to turn up every game and for us to perform and to find a way to win and win dominantly," Perry said.
"It was really cool to be out there with Meg.
"I really enjoy batting with her and she’s incredible when she’s going. To be at the other end is quite easy really."
Nothing has demonstrated Perry’s dominance over this series better than her record against England opener Amy Jones.
Jones headed into the series in career-best form, with knocks of 79, 54, 76, 18, 36, 57, 80, 18, 91, 37 across limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and West Indies.
In six matches across all formats since July 2, Perry has figures of 4-5 from the 25 balls she’s delivered to Jones.
"Quite honestly, I haven’t thought about it and that’s with no disrespect to Amy because I think she’s a wonderful player," Perry said.
"I’m not sure many of those balls have been particularly good balls.
"I think maybe - I hope she doesn’t mind me saying - there’s been some interesting decisions and I think she just feels the pressure a bit.
"She’s trying to get things going and it’s been her shot selection to various balls which have got her out rather than my good bowling.
"It’s been one of those series where we’ve found ourselves up against each other a bit. I’m sure she’ll get out of it at some point."
Perry will have one final chance to add a fifth magnum to her collection, when Australia and England meet in the final T20I of the Ashes on Wednesday in Bristol.
CommBank Ashes Tour of England
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
England T20 squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt
Australia lead England 12-2
First ODI: Australia won by two wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets
Third ODI: Australia won by 194 runs
Only Test: Match Drawn
First T20: Australia won by 93 runs
July 28: Australia won by seven wickets
July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol