Perry leads Stars to consolation win

A superb display with bat and ball from superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry has guided the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars to a 17-run win over New Zealand in the third and final Twenty20 International in New Plymouth.

Perry's run-a-ball 43 laid the foundation for the Southern Stars' 7-145 – their biggest total of the series to date – before she snared 2-15 from her four overs to help seal a consolation win for the tourists, who had already surrendered the series to their trans-Tasman rivals.

With 27 runs needed from the final two overs, in-form New Zealand captain Suzie Bates unbeaten on 54 and threatening to pull off an unlikely win for the hosts, before she was brought undone by a Perry short ball, bringing to an end an impressive 43-ball innings that featured five boundaries and one six.

Perry was ably supported by another economical performance from fellow quick Megan Schutt (2-19), who captured the key wicket of Sara McGlashan (35) in the 12^th over, ending a dangerous 62-run second-wicket stand between the big-hitting White Fern and her skipper, while spinners Grace Harris and Jess Jonassen chipped in with the big scalps of star batters Rachel Priest (8) and Amy Satterthwaite (8).

Earlier, Perry paired with experienced batter Alex Blackwell to set up the Southern Stars' innings after Australia again lost early wickets.

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It was the same old story for Australia at the toss, with White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates again winning and sending the tourists in, stretching Meg Lanning's unlucky streak with the coin in T20Is to nine.

Called on by coach Matthew Mott to improve their batting performances after totals of 7-113 and 6-116 in the first two T20s, the Southern Stars could not reverse their trend of low opening stands, with Elyse Villani falling to leg-spinner Erin Bermingham in the third over for six.

The White Ferns secured another major breakthrough when Meg Lanning holed out in the deep on 17 – having already struck three boundaries and looking ominous – but Perry found a solid partner in Blackwell.

The pair added 51 from 42 deliveries, but it could have been a much bigger stand had a sharp piece of New Zealand fielding not caught Blackwell short of her crease on 27.

 Perry, meanwhile, looked certain to score her second successive half-century, before she was caught in the deep slogging, while the explosive Healy followed suit two balls later, also caught in the deep.

A handy unbeaten 13 from Jess Jonassen, including a big six in the final over, also gave Australia a late boost, but the White Ferns limited the impact of big-hitters Alyssa Healy (12) and Grace Harris (12) late in the innings.

The result didn't influence the outcome of the series – the White Ferns walking away with a 2-1 victory – but a much improved performance will give the Southern Stars a confidence boost ahead of their World T20 title defence in India this month.

Australia fly out for India next week, ahead of their only warm-up game against West Indies in Chennai on March 14.

Their campaign begins in earnest against South Africa in Nagpur on March 18.