T20 World Cup: Ellyse Perry gives Australia injury scare in semi-final win over West Indies
All-rounder Ellyse Perry gave Australia an injury scare before the T20 World Cup final by retiring hurt during her side's dominant semi-final win over West Indies at The Oval.
Perry, a legend of the women's game who has been in fine form at this tournament, unexpectedly walked off on two from seven balls with a quad issue in Australia's successful chase of 126.
The 35-year-old had not appeared restricted and there was no obvious limp as she left the field, but any issue is of obvious concern for the meeting with either England or South Africa on Sunday.
It took the gloss off the most routine of wins as Australia continued their faultless progression through this tournament.
After restricting West Indies to 125-7, they were 64-2 at the end of the seventh over when Perry walked off. They still knocked off their target in only 13 overs with opener Beth Mooney making 61 not out.
Earlier, West Indies batter Deandra Dottin had to be carried from the field by her team-mates after the pre-match anthems. Captain Hayley Matthews later said Dottin, who emerged to bat at number eight and hit 26 not out, had "almost passed out".
The second semi-final on Thursday evening is expected to be a more competitive affair.
England are already sweating on the fitness of their captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has a calf injury.
Perry's apparent injury is perhaps the first hurdle in Australia's pursuit of a seventh T20 World Cup win - a pursuit that has been flawless to this point.
Australia's strength – underlined by Annabel Sutherland and her four Test centuries batting at number seven – is such that they could well win this tournament without Perry.
If anyone can deal with her absence, they can.
But the all-rounder missing Sunday's final would still be a significant blow.
Perry has scored 185 runs in this tournament and when their top order did wobble on Sunday against India it was Perry who took them to victory in combination with Ash Gardner.
That knock of 56 also came at Lord's – the venue of Sunday's final.
Her absence was certainly not felt against West Indies. The veteran has bowled in three of Australia's five matches to this point but was not needed here.
After Hayley Matthews hit 30, the Windies lost 4-12 in 17 balls. Opener Quina Joseph took 22 balls to make 16 and even with Dottin's cameo they were always well short.
Captain Matthews admitted the situation around Dottin was "scary", meaning there are caveats to a game that was barely a contest.
Despite a decent crowd of 10,023, this semi-final was played in front of half full stands. The match was scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon to suit Indian TV audiences.