Ellyse Perry

2023 - 2 - 23

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Scroll.in"

Newlands, old issues: Ellyse Perry's athletic brilliance stands in ... (Scroll.in)

Despite acknowledging that fielding is an area they all want to improve, the results are not quite there yet consistently for India.

But the impact of saving runs on the field is a skill in the modern game that can be controlled. And I think us as athletes, we’re all really, we all push each other, whether it’s on the field or off the field, whether it’s in the gym, it’s running. And yeah, I certainly think Pez was probably the blueprint for our side going forward, certainly on the boundary, but I think, yeah, at the end of the day, that could have been something that I guess was the difference between us and them.” Indeed, if one could take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the Indian U19 women’s team was sensational in the field in the recent World Cup final, earning the praise of the opposition for how they made an impact by throwing themselves around, taking sharp catches and saving runs. So, to think whether it’s drop catches, missed opportunities in the field, those ultimately add up to quite a lot of runs. In sharp contrast, India’s fielding was largely listless on the day, except for a few dives here and there. In the moment when the contact was made between bat and ball, the destiny was for it to reach the boundary ropes. The captain herself has always prided on being sharp in the field. In Cape Town on Thursday, it was also perhaps summed up where the biggest difference was between the two teams. And Perry was out in the middle, showing the world what an elite professional she was, is and, will remain. In the moment when the contact was made between bat and ball, once again the destiny was for it to reach the boundary ropes. She would be player of the match for her 3/18 but even that one instance, would have justified that award.

'Just incredible': Aussie superstar's 'game-winning' feat secures ... (Fox Sports)

'Just incredible': Aussie superstar's 'game-winning' feat secures World Cup final berth.

Jonassen’s following two deliveries were a dot ball and a wicket, meaning India suddenly needed 16 runs from the last over for victory. “I live and breathe it. “I was probably more nervous earlier on in the innings, with both ball in hand, but also out in the field. India shot itself in the foot with multiple dropped catches and slop misfields during the first innings, and fielding ultimately proved the difference between the two sides in a narrow contest. The must-win semi-final was in the balance in the penultimate over of the run chase, with India needing 18 runs from the final nine deliveries to secure an upset victory over Meg Lanning’s powerhouse team. [Friday morning’s nailbiting victory over India at Newlands](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia-qualifies-for-t20-world-cup-decider-after-thrilling-semifinal-victory-over-india/news-story/26bba401f3263bfb2fe9792fcd646486), but the Australian all-rounder’s heroics in the field helped the defending champions qualify for a seventh consecutive T20 World Cup final.

Ellyse Perry comes up with game-changing save in penultimate over ... (Republic World)

The semi-final clash between India and Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup saw the fielding department yet again becoming the ultimate differentiator.

[pic.twitter.com/wajJQ5oMa0] [February 23, 2023] Australia will await the winner of England and South Africa. The ball looked destined to go for a boundary but [Ellyse Perry](https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/cricket-news/wpl-2023-australia-legend-ellyse-perry-calls-india-the-spiritual-home-of-cricket-articleshow.html) flew in the picture to save vital two runs for her side. Jess Jonassen, who was given the responsibility to bowl the over, picked the right spots in the first half of the over, however, on the fourth [Sneh Rana](https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/cricket-news/mithali-raj-backs-sneh-rana-to-take-up-finishers-job-bigger-role-to-play-for-india.html) made the right contact to guide the ball to the square leg. [India](https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/cricket-news/harmanpreet-kaurs-effort-goes-in-vain-as-australia-beat-india-by-5-runs-to-reach-another-final-articleshow.html) were on course to chase the target of 173 runs, however, the penultimate over proved to be too costly for India and too economical for the team in Yellow jersey. The semi-final clash between India and Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup saw the fielding department yet again becoming the ultimate differentiator.

WATCH: Ellyse Perry saves boundary with amazing fielding in ... (ARY NEWS)

Video of Australian cricketer Ellyse Perry saving a certain four with her superb fielding skills in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup is viral.

She conceded 14 runs in her first and only over. It had four runs written on it. The opener scored 37-ball 54 with seven boundaries and a six to her name.

VIDEO: Ellyse Perry's Incredible Semi-Final Winning Boundary Save ... (The Cricket Lounge)

VIDEO: Ellyse Perry's Incredible Semi-Final Winning Boundary Save Against India: It can be fair to say that the difference between India and Australia in ...

The lanky all-rounder put in a big dive and flicked it back with one hand. And [Ellyse Perry’s](https://thecricketlounge.com/wpl-auction-net-worth-of-ellyse-perry-salary-husband/) sensational boundary save in the penultimate over of India’s chase highlighted the gap in fielding standards in the semi-final, which India lost by only 5 runs and suffered another heartbreak. India came hard at us and they have got some incredible players. Not only those were crucial two runs saved, but it also lifted the spirits of the Aussies even more. Meanwhile, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s terrific half-century went in vain. We missed out lengths and gave width at tims.

Watch video: Ellyse Perry's brilliant athleticism saves runs, match as ... (News9 Live)

India needed 18 from the final nine deliveries. A couple of big hits and the India vs Australia would have been on par.

Earlier, multiple dropped catches and misfields did India in as they gave away almost 25 runs in the field which could have been that many runs short to get. India had the momentum and the pressure would have tilted towards the Aussies as they would have had to save the match. India now needed 16 from the last six balls.

Gardner: 'We probably had no right to win at one point' (ESPNcricinfo.com)

An exemplary fielding performance and a perfectly executed 19th over help Australia eke out a narrow win.

"I had to get her to repeat it because I had walked about ten laps after training yesterday, sort of getting my head around how I would mentally deal with if I missed out again," Jonassen said. In our training sessions, there are always really high-pressure situations, and as athletes, we all push each other - whether it's on the field or off the field, whether it's in the gym, running. Today the running between was really good but I think there's so much to learn from." "We showed our class today in the field and we always speak about as a group being the best fielding team in the world, and I think today really showed that," Gardner said. As an Indian team, we know that we need to improve our fielding and our running between wickets. Whether it's dropped catches, [or] missed opportunities in the field, those ultimately add up to quite a lot of runs and I think we took those moments when we really needed to. "I certainly think Pez is probably the blueprint for our side going forward - certainly on the boundary. "But again, we have to just learn [from] whatever mistakes we have made. That, combined with Thursday's performance at Newlands, suggests the gap might be closing somewhat compared to the 85-run thumping they had dished out to India in the final of the T20 World Cup back [in 2020](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/women-s-t20-world-cup-2019-20-1172990/australia-women-vs-india-women-final-1173070/full-scorecard). Every piece of effort is given at 100% and forms part of the whole juggernaut, which even when pushed by India in the [T20 World Cup semi-final](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-t20-world-cup-2022-23-1338037/australia-women-vs-india-women-1st-semi-final-1338060/full-scorecard)prevails by five runs. They were cruising and then we found a way to get some wickets and ultimately came out on top." [Ellyse Perry](https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/ellyse-perry-275487)sprinted to her right from deep-backward square leg, threw herself into the air and flicked the ball back before tumbling over the boundary rope to save two runs.