Perry stars in big win over Bangladesh

Ellyse Perry led Australia to a convincing nine-wicket win over Bangladesh, taking 2-14 and scoring 19 not out. The Aussies restricted Bangladesh to a 8-77 from their 20 overs and then made 1-78, with 63 deliveries to spare. What's next? Australia plays the Netherlands at Southampton's Rose Bowl on Saturday evening (AEST). Led by the great Ellyse Perry, Australia has all but locked in a T20 World Cup semifinal berth after trouncing Bangladesh by nine wickets to remain unbeaten in Group A. After winning the toss and electing to bowl at Leeds on Wednesday, the Aussies capitalised on a favourable, green-tinged Headingley pitch to restrict Bangladesh to a paltry 8-77 from their 20 overs. The Australians then strolled past the target with a whopping 63 deliveries to spare, making 1-78. Georgia Voll (45 not out off 32 balls) hit six fours and a six, while player-of-the-match Perry (19no) capped a fine allround performance by hitting the winning runs after earlier taking two wickets in her first over. Gardner and Litchfield injured Australia was forced to make two changes from the team that beat South Africa in the opening game, with Megan Schutt and Grace Harris coming in for Phoebe Litchfield and Ash Gardner. Litchfield failed a fitness test on the morning of the game after suffering a quad injury in the match against the Proteas, while Gardner was unavailable with a sprained ankle. The only blemish in the Aussies' clinical reply was the loss of Beth Mooney (10), who fell to an excellent catch by Ritu Moni at mid-off. Earlier, captain Sophie Molineux (2-14), Perry (2-14), Kim Garth (2-18) and Annabel Sutherland (1-8 off three overs) blanketed the Tigers, who hit just six boundaries without any sixes. In challenging batting conditions, Bangladesh was reduced to 5-27 in the eighth over before skipper Nigar Sultana (27) and Ritu (16) — the only two to reach double figures — put on 32 for the sixth wicket to provide some respectability. Their gritty partnership ended when Ritu lofted Georgia Wareham to Georgia Voll at midwicket, before Molineux trapped opposite number Sultana lbw. Australia next plays the Netherlands at Southampton's Rose Bowl on Saturday evening (AEST). [Image text:] WUSTRALIA MAR