Ellyse Perry's 'insane' moment as Aussies advance to T20 World Cup final

Australia have advanced to the women's T20 World Cup final after some brilliant death bowling and an incredible save from Ellyse Perry helped them beat India in Thursday's semi-final. The Aussie women advanced to a seventh-straight T20 World Cup final after beating India by five runs in a pulsating match that went down to the final over.

The Australians held their nerve at the death, with Ash Gardner and Jess Jonassen defending the 20 runs India needed in the final two overs. Perry also pulled off an incredible boundary-saving dive towards the end of the match that many said may have changed the result.

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With India needing 18 off the final nine balls, they thought they'd struck a certain boundary to backward square leg. But Perry produced a brilliant full-body dive to slap the ball back into play, keeping India to two runs and saving another two.

"That is outstanding," Mel Jones said of Perry's effort in commentary. "That is one of the biggest dives you'll see. This is athleticism at its highest."

The amazing moment sparked a mini-collapse for India, with two wickets falling in quick succession that ultimately saw India fall five runs short of Australia's total. Fans on social media were also raving about Perry's game-changing moment.

Reporter Lachlan McKirdy tweeted: "Won't be running out of superlatives for that match anytime soon. It had everything.

"But for me, the defining moment will be Ellyse Perry putting her body on the line on the boundary rope. If Australia win this T20 World Cup, that will be the lasting memory."

Aussies advance to women's T20 World Cup final

Beth Mooney's 54 and an unbeaten 49 from Meg Lanning helped Australia set a formidable total while batting first at Newlands. Gardner's quick-fire 31 had also given urgency to Australia's innings as they ended on 4-172.

Mooney and Lanning both benefited from sloppy catching from India, whose dropped chances in the 2020 T20 World Cup final had played a part in Australia clinching the trophy at the MCG. Lanning, dropped on one and nine, struck six boundaries in her 34-ball knock to bring up her highest score of the tournament.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was tears and bitterly disappointed, although there was pride in her players fighting until the last ball. Kaur admitted that she had defied illness to play and that she was not feeling well during an innings of 52 which put India in sight of victory.

However a freak runout in which her bat got stuck in the ground also turned the momentum in Australia's favour. Kaur hit a ball to deep mid-wicket and seemed set to complete a comfortable two runs, only for her bat to jam into the turf just short of the crease as Alyssa Healy whipped the bails off. Kaur threw her bat in disgust as she walked off.

"I can't feel unluckier than this," said Kaur at the post-match presentation. "There was momentum when Jem (Jemimah Rodrigues) and I were batting.

"Even after losing wickets we knew we had a good batting line-up. We wanted to fight until the last ball. We fought in this tournament and we played some really good cricket."

Lanning said she was proud of her players for staying calm during the Indian onslaught. "This is a team that stands up in tough moments. It puts us in good stead for the final," she said.

Australia have now qualified for their seventh-successive final, having won five of the previous six. They will meet the winners of Friday's second semi-final between England and South Africa.

with agencies

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