Ellyse Perry scored a fluent 56 off 38 balls as Australia chased down 171 with six wickets in hand against India at Lord's on Sunday, completing the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history. The victory — Australia's fifth consecutive win of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 — sealed their place in the last four while ending India's semifinal hopes.

Perry and Gardner Seal a Record Chase

Perry, named Player of the Match, anchored the chase with a composed half-century before Ashleigh Gardner took the game away from India with an unbeaten 53. Their partnership through the middle overs proved decisive on what Perry described as a good batting surface.

'We felt like it was a pretty good wicket. We just needed a strong partnership through the middle there to get us a good platform for the back end,' Perry said after the match.

The six-time champions topped their group with 10 points and will now face the West Indies in the first semi-final at Kennington Oval on Tuesday.

Perry's Tribute to Gardner

Perry was effusive in her praise for Gardner's aggressive approach, which kept the required rate in check throughout the chase.

'I thought Ash was superb. She targeted the first six balls, which was great. She regularly found the boundary off those balls, and I think that always gives you a strong footing in the over. Then we were able to go with her to get a bit of momentum. Ash was superb,' Perry said.

Gardner's willingness to attack from the outset gave Australia the momentum buffer they needed, particularly in the middle overs where India's bowlers had hoped to apply pressure.

The Lord's Occasion

Perry reflected on the significance of the venue and atmosphere, calling the day one to remember for the entire squad.

'Just an incredible atmosphere and amazing support from the crowd. The opportunity to play here at Lord's against India in an amazing game, the battle... so, yeah, a really special day for everyone. Really appreciate everyone who came out to support us today and made it such a fun day,' she said after collecting the Player of the Match award.

Playing at Lord's — the home of cricket — in front of a packed crowd against a high-profile opponent like India added layers of significance to what was already a record-setting result.

Australia's Road to the Semis

Australia's unbeaten group-stage run underlines their status as tournament favourites. Five wins from five matches, a record chase, and a settled batting order built around experienced campaigners like Perry and Gardner signal a side peaking at the right moment.

Perry acknowledged the quality of the tournament as a whole, noting the upsets and close finishes that have made the 2026 edition compelling viewing.

'I think it's been a wonderful tournament so far. Every venue that we've played at has had a great atmosphere and crowds. The cricket has been brilliant. There have been a few upsets as well, and various matches have gone right down to the wire. So it's been such a fun tournament to be part of so far,' she said.

With two knockout matches potentially standing between Australia and a seventh Women's T20 World Cup title, Perry's form and Gardner's firepower will be central to their campaign — beginning with the semi-final against the West Indies at Kennington Oval on Tuesday.