Aussies to take cautious approach on sore Perry

Australia will take a cautious approach with Ellyse Perry after the star allrounder was forced from the field during Tuesday's comfortable five-wicket World Cup win over South Africa in Wellington.

The exact cause of the discomfort has not been confirmed, but Perry rolled over the padded boundary rope in an athletic diving save in the fifth over of the match and while she remained on the field until the first drinks break, she was then replaced by sub-fielder Nicola Carey and remained off for the rest of South Africa's batting innings.

Perry then appeared ginger as she made her way onto the field to face throwdowns during the innings break, but Australia captain Meg Lanning confirmed after the match that the 31-year-old had been available to bat if required in the pursuit of the Proteas' 5-271.

Image Id: AB19F35B4E1C4B89A66D5D7E21064CAF Image Caption: Ellyse Perry dives to save a run early in South Africa's innings // Getty

Ultimately was not needed as the skipper's unbeaten 135 steered her side home with 28 balls to spare.

Australia have one round robin match remaining against seventh-ranked Bangladesh – a side they have never faced in an ODI – on Friday, before a semi-final next week.

"We'll manage her over the next few days and whether she's available for the next game, I'm not too sure," Lanning said following the game.

"But we need to have her for that semi-final and hopefully a final.

"For her to go off, obviously there's something (wrong) there, she's a pretty tough character, so hopefully it's nothing too serious.

"If she's not 100 per cent and able to perform her role there's a chance that she won't play (against Bangladesh) but if she comes up pretty well and she's fit and available then she'll play.

"I don't think we'll look to rest any players that are available (for that match), but we certainly won't be taking any risks with any key players."

The tournament frontrunners will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2020 T20I World Cup when a serious hamstring injury left Perry on the sidelines for both the semi-final and the decider at the MCG.

But her absence with the bat on Tuesday had one unexpected benefited – it provided Australia's middle-order with some much-needed time in the middle.

Going into the match, those batting 6-11 had faced just 84 balls in the entire tournament.

Beth Mooney (21), Tahlia McGrath (32) and Ashleigh Gardner (22) all made minor contributions to Tuesday's successful chase, while Annabel Sutherland ended the game unbeaten on 22 in her first knock of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Lanning did not confirm whether teenage quick Darcie Brown would return for the Bangladesh match.

Brown has played just three of Australia's six matches so far and was missing from Tuesday's line-up, with team management hoping to have her at peak fitness for the business end of the tournament.

"With Darcie we look at every game as to whether she's physically in a position to be able to play at 100 per cent," Lanning said.

"She's a young fast bowler who we need to make sure we're looking after and she had a big workload last game, so today it was about managing her and hoping that she's available every game in the back-end of the tournament.

"It's a fine balance in terms of having her fresh, but also making sure she's got some good rhythm as well.

"We'll work through that with the management team over the next few days."

Australia will have a rest day on Wednesday before returning to training on Thursday to prepare for the showdown with Bangladesh.

While their place in the tournament play-offs is confirmed and they cannot finish outside the top two, they will likely have to wait until Sunday night to learn which semi-final they will play in.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets

Mar 19: Beat India by six wickets

Mar 22: Beat South Africa by five wickets

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports