‘Crazy scenes’: Ellyse Perry puts her body on the line in cricket mayhem

Ellyse Perry was in the thick of the action when wild weather caused chaos in a match between NSW and Victoria on Sunday.

Ellyse Perry put her body on the line to put the covers on.

Australian cricket star Ellyse Perry was in the thick of the action as wild weather wreaked havoc on Sunday’s game between NSW and Victoria in the Women’s National Cricket League.

Rain delayed the start of the match at Melbourne’s Junction Oval by half an hour before Perry — the Victorian captain — sent NSW in to bat.

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Perry dismissed her Australian teammate Alyssa Healy caught and bowled for an eight-ball duck.

But from then on the Breakers were on fire, compiling a total of 7/300 before the inclement weather interrupted play again.

Teenager Phoebe Litchfield topscored for NSW with 88 off 72 balls and she was ably supported by Tahlia Wilson (54) and Ashleigh Gardner).

There were amusing scenes when a sudden storm forced the players from the field after 46 overs of NSW’s innings.

Players from both teams rushed to help the ground staff put the covers on the pitch as they battled ferocious winds.

Perry wasn’t afraid to put her body on the line, lying down on the covers while the players held down the sides so the ground staff could peg them in without the covers blowing away.

Absolute MAYHEM at the CitiPower Centre as the Melbourne weather sets in 💨

Well done to players and ground staff on getting this cover down! 🌧 #WNCLpic.twitter.com/e00U7hhQOp

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) December 19, 2021

Ellyse Perry appreciation tweet.

That's commitment 😁#WNCLpic.twitter.com/Y5DmlAJiRj

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) December 19, 2021

Her admirable devotion to protecting the pitch was praised by cricket pundits.

“Top work by all involved and exceptional all-rounder commitment from Ellyse Perry,” AAP sport reporter Anna Harrington tweeted.

“Crazy scenes at the Junction Oval,” cricket commentator Darren Parkin said.

“Big burst of wind and rain coming through so Victorian and NSW players including Ellyse Perry laying on the covers to hold them down whilst the ground crew peg them in. All hands on deck!”

It was complete carnage at Junction Oval. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Everyone pitched in to help/ (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

ESPN cricinfo writer Annesha Ghosh added tongue-in-cheek: “Exceptional commitment and showcase of technical knowledge in particular from Ellyse Perry, who, from the get-go, appears to be aware of EXACTLY what needs doing, and makes ingenious use of her height.

“Could do down as one of her great match-saving efforts …”

When the weather eased and play resumed, Victoria was set a revised target of 256 from 35 overs and Perry was in fine form with the bat.

The star all-rounder struck a superb knock off 120 off 94 balls, including 10 boundaries and four sixes.

It was Perry’s sixth List A century and her fourth in the WNCL but she played a lone hand, with Nicole Faltum (49) the only other Victorian to make a decent score.

But it wasn’t enough to get the Vics over the line. They only managed 9-229, handing NSW a 27-run victory via the Duckworth Lewis system.

Originally published as ‘Crazy scenes’: Ellyse Perry puts her body on the line in cricket mayhem