A new Ellyse on life as an allrounder

Ellyse Perry could only laugh when asked about the shot that saw her hole out in the deep with Australia one run shy of victory in their Women's World Cup clash with New Zealand on Sunday.

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"I had to apologise to 'Midge' (Alyssa Healy) walking off the field," Perry laughed following Australia's five-wicket win, achieved with eight balls to spare.

"It was a pretty silly shot. I'm not sure what was going on there.

"I was just a bit overzealous I think. Not my finest shot."

Fortunately for Perry and Australia, her dismissal mattered little as the allrounder had already guided Australia through their chase with a superb half-century in difficult conditions, sharing match-winning stands with Meg Lanning and Alex Blackwell and ensuring the Southern Stars' unbeaten run in the tournament continued.

But Perry's latest achievement with the bat is no laughing matter.

The 26-year-old passed 2000 one-day international runs during Sunday's match.

After 86 matches and 54 innings, she averages 49.12 and has 19-half-centuries to her name.

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Those numbers are brilliant enough on their own, but a closer inspection paints a clearer picture of Perry's transformation from a fast-bowler who entered the Australian team as a 16-year-old, to the bonafide world-class batter she is today.

Her first 1000 ODI runs came in 45 innings, at an average of 37.53.

Her second 1000? Just 19 innings. At an average of 72.42, including 12 half-centuries.

Perry's career ODI average reached 50 during Sunday's match, and now sits at 49.12.

Curiously, an international century still eludes the New South Wales product, though it seems only a matter of time before she breaks through for a maiden ton.

When Perry strides to the crease these days, a score of at least fifty seems mandatory. After all, she's passed the milestone 18 times in her last 26 innings.

Asked about her improvement with the bat following Sunday's match, Perry said it had been a "gradual and natural" process.

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"I've always, since I was a kid, batted and bowled," she said.

"I got an opportunity when I was quite young to come into the team as a bowler.

"I really enjoyed that and that was my position in the team for a while.

"But as this team's evolved and different people have moved on, I've got a lot more of an opportunity with the bat, which I've really enjoyed as well.

"It's been really nice to develop that and I suppose add another facet to my game.

"It keeps you involved for the whole game, which is great.

"It's been nice and I've been really thankful for the opportunity and I really enjoy working on my batting as well."

Sunday's match wasn't just about Perry's progress as a batter, however.

It was also a welcome test for Australia's middle-order, who had scant opportunities in Australia's two previous wins in the tournament, both achieved with eight wickets in hand.

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While No.5 Elyse Villani missed out after a brilliant wrong-un from teenage leg-spinner Amelia Kerr bowler her, ultimately Perry and Blackwell, who scored an unbeaten 39, made it look easy.

But the former later revealed the conditions had been tough, as had the New Zealand bowling attack.

"I don't think we ever felt wholly comfortable out there," Perry said.

"It was a little bit of a tricky wicket to get in on, coupled with New Zealand who bowled really well.

"I suppose when you're chasing needing five runs an over you're probably reasonably comfortable, but it was hard going and it was nice to get over the line in the end.

"Alex played the conditions really well and was really good in finding the boundary when we needed to towards the end.

"The chase never got away from us which was great."

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Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

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