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Ellyse Perry at centre of brutal scenes in Women's Premier League shocker

The Aussie cricket star has experienced a rough start to the inaugural tournament in India.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Ellyse Perry, pictured here in the Women's Premier League.
Ellyse Perry has endured a torrid time so far in the Women's Premier League. Image: Getty

Ellyse Perry's brutal initiation to the Women's Premier League in India has continued, with the Aussie cricket star carted for 18 runs off 1.2 overs and runout for just 13 on Monday. Playing in her first game in the new WPL on Sunday, Perry took 0-29 off three overs as her Royal Challengers Bangalore were thrashed by Meg Lanning's Delhi Capitals.

On Monday it didn't get much better, with Perry bowling one over for eight runs, before returning and conceding two match-sealing boundaries against the Mumbai Indians. Perry and compatriot Megan Schutt are both among the top-five wicket takers of all-time in T20 internationals.

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However they've endured a torrid time in the first few matches of the inaugural WPL. The Aussies were both carted for more than 10 an over in Bangalore's nine-wicket loss to Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium ground.

Ellyse Perry, pictured here in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL.
Ellyse Perry in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

RCB batted first and were bowled out for 155, with Mumbai then cruising past the target on 1-159 with 34 balls to spare. West Indian star Hayley Matthews made 77 not out and English all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt 55 not out, with both feasting on the Australian bowlers in an unbroken match-winning partnership of 114.

Schutt, who went for 45 off four overs in RCB's first-up loss to Delhi Capitals, this time conceded 32 off just three. She still hasn't taken a wicket in the first two games.

Perry had looked threatening with the bat, smashing one glorious six. But on 13 after just seven balls, she was run out after a mix-up with Indian partner Richa Ghosh.

Schutt has also looked happier with bat than ball in the WPL. On Monday she made a useful 20 off 14 balls near the end of the RCB innings to help her side reach a respectable total - although it was all in vain.

Perry and Schutt's rough start to the WPL comes after they both starred for Australia at the T20 World Cup. The Aussies claimed the title with victory over South Africa in the final, with Perry and Schutt both helping their country make history with yet another trophy.

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RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, the highest-paid player in the WPL, again failed to fire against the Capitals. She moved nicely to 23 off 17 balls before being caught at point off Matthews, whose 3-28 as well as her big-hitting made her the obvious choice for player of the match.

Matthews whacked 13 fours and a six in her knock, while Sciver-Brunt showed why she's the most expensive overseas recruit in the league alongside Australian Ash Gardner, reaching her half-century off just 28 balls.

Mumbai are unbeaten after their first two games, while the star-studded RCB are still looking to get off the mark in the competition.

Meanwhile, there has still been no confirmation on whether Aussie star Beth Mooney - the Gujarat Giants' captain - will be fit to continue in the tournament. Mooney suffered a knee injury in the opening match on Saturday, and coach Rachael Haynes had offered a gloomy prognosis over the weekend.

with AAP

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