IND-W vs AUS-W: Ellyse Perry aims to set 200-plus target for India on final day

Taking lessons from the first innings debacle, the Australian team adjusted to the conditions well in the second essay, which helped the side put up a fight.

FILE PHOTO: Tahlia McGrath of Australia and Ellyse Perry of Australia break for a drink during day three of the Women’s Test Match between India and Australia at Wankhede Stadium on December 23, 2023 in Mumbai, India. | Photo Credit: Getty Images / Pankaj Nangia

Ellyse Perry said that Australia will try to give India a target of 200-plus on the final day of the one-off Test. 

Ending the third day’s play with a slender lead of 46 runs, the visiting team hopes to set up a daunting target against India. Taking lessons from the first innings debacle, the Australian team adjusted to the conditions well in the second essay, which helped the side put up a fight.

“I think that sort of comes down to the context of the game in terms of how long is left and also how many runs we’ve put on the board. But I think it really matters with, you know, how long we’ve got to then bowl at India,” Perry, who became Australia’s second-highest run-scorer in Tests with 925 runs in 12 matches, overtaking Belinda Clarke’s total of 862, said.

“Positively speaking, if we can get close to or over a 200-run lead, I think that at least keeps us in the game,” said Perry, who scored 45 in Australia’s second innings.

Perry, who forged a partnership with Tahlia McGrath, heaped praise on the latter. “She’s a pretty great Test match player. She obviously batted really well in the first innings as well. Tahlia’s approach I think is always attacking. She plays a lot of great shots. She’s a strokemaker. But today she just looked really tight,” she said. 

“In amongst some of those really great drives, like, she’s fantastically solid on defense. I thought she bowled really well. She tied down an end for us as well in our bowling innings. So she’s all around us. A fabulous player and great to have in our team. 

“This has been a really great effort. That’s much better in terms of their contribution to the innings. I think she’s been solid through. It’s been great,” said Perry.