The allrounder, seen by many as women's cricket's 'GOAT' and still flourishing at 35, struck a superb fifty and shared in a 100-run stand off just 59 balls with fellow half-centurion Ash Gardner, as Australia pulled off the highest successful chase in the global tournament's history on Sunday.
Sophie Molineux's side earned their fifth-straight win to set up a semi-final across London at the Oval on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) against the West Indies, and there was no hiding the feeling it was a measure of revenge after India had dethroned them as ODI champs in last year's semi-final.
For Harmanpreet Kaur's side had needed to win in front of a record crowd of 27,163 at the home of cricket, including Indian great Virat Kohli, to book their own semi-final place after South Africa had earlier struggled to beat Bangladesh by four wickets at the same venue.
India's defeat, though, means South Africa, who finished second in group one, will play unbeaten hosts England in the other semi-final at the Oval on Thursday (Friday AEST).Â
And at the heart of the Australian success again was Perry, who's in her 10th T20 World Cup and searching for a seventh winner's medal, as she gathered the side together after India had compiled a formidable 4-170 amid some poor Australian fielding and rallied the troops in a post-innings huddle.
"Pez brought them in, and said 170 is very, very gettable," revealed skipper Molineux. "And her actions spoke louder than words as she just led from the front, her and Ash. It was great."
India had fancied their chances after their 4-170, largely off the back of Harmanpreet's 56 off 27 balls at the back end of the innings, including three-straight sixes in the final over off Molineux.
Australia's fielding had suddenly got ragged as the Indians piled on the pressure with Nicola Carey, Georgia Wareham and Phoebe Litchfield all spilling boundary catches as they rattled up 38 in the final two overs.
But Perry was to prove the rock in Australia's record-breaking reply after Beth Mooney had begun with 22 off 20 balls and Litchfield 24 off 25, the master allrounder then going on to hit eight boundaries in her 56 off 38 balls.
Perry, who'd also scored 50 in her previous knock against Pakistan, found an able accomplice in Gardner, who struck three sixes and three fours in her unbeaten 53, before Wareham hit the winning boundary to take Australia to 4-172 with an over to spare.
Australia's latest terrific demonstration was enjoyed most by the delighted South African women, who'd stayed on to see if they'd earn a semi-final spot.
"I never thought I'd be supporting the Aussies - but go Aussies!" South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt had smiled after their Bangladesh win.
But though there's a short two-day turnaround for Molineux's team, they'll be strongly fancied to defeat the West Indies, who they trounced in a warm-up match in Cardiff, and qualify for the final next Sunday, back at Lord's.
