Six-time champions Australia cruised into their eighth Women’s T20 World Cup final with a dominant eight-wicket victory over the West Indies at The Oval on Tuesday, but the triumph was clouded by an injury scare to star all-rounder Ellyse Perry. The 35-year-old veteran, who is Australia’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 185 runs, unexpectedly hobbled off the pitch and retired hurt on just two runs from seven balls during the seventh over of the chase. The sudden exit sparked immediate concern, particularly given Perry’s devastating history with tournament-ending injuries, notably missing the 2020 World Cup final due to a major hamstring tear.
Despite the initial anxiety surrounding her departure, the Australian camp quickly moved to downplay the severity of the issue ahead of Sunday’s final at Lord’s. Captain Sophie Molineux and opening batter Beth Mooney both clarified that Perry experienced “quad awareness” rather than a definitive tear, describing the move as largely precautionary. Molineux expressed strong confidence that the premier all-rounder would be “more than okay” to feature in the showcase match, where Australia will face either hosts England or South Africa as they hunt for yet another global title.
