Ellyse Perry celebrates her 100

Perry joins distinguished company before rain intervenes

Ellyse Perry celebrates her 100

Betty Wilson, Enid Bakewell and Claire Taylor, that’s the company Ellyse Perry joined today as the fourth women to hit back-to-back Ashes centuries.

The Australia No. 4 began the day on 84 and it was 54 minutes before she was taking her helmet off and raising it alongside her bat to celebrate her century. Perry got off the mark with a gorgeous backfoot punch that pierced the England fielders at extra cover and cover. Her next boundary was potentially even better as she drove Nat Sciver through mid-on to move to 95.

At the other end was Rachel Haynes and her innings was no less impressive. Alongside Perry she saw off the opening burst from Katherine Brunt and Anya Shubsole. England skipper Heather Knight looked to change up her bowlers and Sciver found more movement than the openers yet also gifted more boundaries to the Australian duo.

Haynes was afforded some luck when she drilled a Sciver short ball straight to Sophie Ecclestone at square leg only for the left-arm spinner to drop a straightforward chance.

Once Perry reached her century she looked to step it up a gear and hit Laura Marsh over her head for a four and an over later pulled the off-spinner for another boundary. Marsh had the last laugh as Perry hit a full toss straight to mid-wicket and Knight took a comfortable catch. Four overs later Marsh had her second wicket, Haynes adjudged lbw although replays suggested the ball had brushed her glove as she attempted to sweep the England spinner.

Perry and Haynes added 162 for the fourth wicket and with two days left to play, it seems likely that the Ashes will be staying in Australia.

Australia went into lunch with the score 341/5, Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen the unbeaten batters. Unfortunately, over the lunch break, rain set in and although play was rescheduled several times the players were unable to get back out to resume the action.