Throwback: 11 years since Ellyse Perry’s boot helped Australia clinch the T20 World Cup

Throwback: 11 years since Ellyse Perry’s boot helped Australia clinch the T20 World Cup

Australia celebrate the T20 World Cup win

The summit clash of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 had among the most thrilling finishes. The match went down to the final ball where Ellyse Perry helped the Aussies clinch victory by defending 14 off the final over even as a well-set Sophie Devine was on strike throughout the over.

The tournament was held in the Caribbean and it saw the Oceanian countries Australia and New Zealand in terrific touch. In the group stages, both sides won all three of their matches to get to the semi-finals. In the semis, Australia clinched a tense win over India while the New Zealanders brushed aside hosts West Indies to set up an all-Oceanian final.

Elysse Perry’s boot turns out to be the hero

Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry

In the final of the T20 World Cup, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. However, they were just not able to get going as the wickets kept falling regularly while the run rate remained low. All they could manage in the end was 106/8. In reply, New Zealand wobbled as well, as they were reduced to 36/5 in 11 overs with a win nowhere in sight.

However, Sophie Devine came up with an assured knock to keep the New Zealanders very much alive. In the end, 14 runs were required off the final over bowled by Ellyse Perry. Devine and her partner Liz Perry then showcased some masterful running between the wickets to take four doubles in the over.

With 5 runs required off the final ball, Perry bowled a full delivery at the stumps and the ball was struck hard by Devine. It was travelling at high speed past the bowler when Ellyse Perry instinctively struck out her leg. The ball hit her boot which arrested the momentum and it went to Lisa Sthalekar at mid-on, sparking celebrations in the Australian camp. The moment has become one of the most iconic in Australian women’s cricket history and it is exactly 11 years since it happened.

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