England's Hopes Dim As Perry's Freak Catch Puts Aussies In Pink

ENGLAND committed to plenty of hard graft both before and after the sun had set. But their after dark session was ultimately dimmed by a moment of brilliance cum-luck when Sarah Taylor was nabbed by a freakish return catch.

- Adam Collins

Not freakish in the sense that Ellyse Perry found the composure to take such an opportunity in her follow through on the opening day of the day-night Test. But rather, the fact that she did not even see the pink ball. It hit her arm, then midriff – then possibly her cheek – before falling into the superstar’s left hand.

Her response was uncontrollable laughter both at the time and after play.

“I slipped a little bit in some footmarks on that delivery and my head went down,” she explained. “I lost all sight of it. I think it was a pretty hideous delivery, I didn’t even see it.

“Then I looked up and the lights were a little bit in my eyes. The first time I spotted the ball was pretty much just before it hit my arm.

“Then, rather embarrassingly, I managed to catch it.”

She might be embarrassed, but there is no reason for Australia to lament the outcome.

Under lights at the striking North Sydney Oval, Taylor had been batting like a dream since coming in two overs before the second new ball, at No.6, in a rejigged batting line-up.

Her clip through midwicket and then a cover drive in one Megan Schutt over were equally to die for; the aesthetic highlights of the 100-over day.