‘Adorable’ footage of the moment Ellyse Perry’s No.1 fans met their hero

Seven young girls waited for Perry after her WBBL match against the Sydney Thunder, each donning ‘I love Ellyse Perry’ shirts and holding homemade signs. When their hero emerged from the changerooms, many were unable to contain their excitement.

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The beautiful footage shows the young cricket fans sprinting towards the Australian all-rounder as she approached, one immediately bursting into tears as Perry embraces her.

Perry signed shirts and other merchandise, chatting to the girls, who have undeniably earned the title of Perry’s number one fans.

“This is just adorable. There’s been squeals; they’ve been crying. One of the little girls told me that she cried when Ellyse waved at her earlier,” Channel 7 cricket presenter Abbey Gelmi said.

“It’s amazing to see the reach of the game. These girls travelled for two-and-a-half hours here. It’s just the most beautiful footage.”

The girls were adamant the drive from Maitland didn’t bother them, one claiming she would “do anything” to watch Perry compete.

“She’s just a great role model for kids, especially our age. She basically opens the door to everyone,” the girl said.

“We really look up to her, so we’d do anything.”

PERRY’S PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH PERFORMANCE

Another Ellyse Perry masterclass catapulted the Sydney Sixers to a comprehensive 40-run win over cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder and to the top of the WBBL ladder.

Perry (81) started cautiously before launching late, steering the Sixers’ 3/152 at Drummoyne Oval, which proved well beyond the Thunder, who staggered to 8/112 in reply.

A frustrated Perry barely celebrated her 17th WBBL half century, which took her 55 balls to compile, but her refusal to concede her wicket ultimately proved decisive.

She took 19 off Rene Farrell’s 20th over before being run out off the last ball, by which time she took her season’s tally to 432 runs at a phenomenal average of 108.

Perry is now just nine runs shy off the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Brisbane gun Beth Mooney (441).

Alyssa Healy (40) was typically attacking, albeit starved of the strike at times during an 85-run opening stand with Perry, which the Thunder never recovered from.

Thunder import Rachael Priest (16) was aggressive early but her departure in the fifth over sparked a 4/15 collapse, book ended by Alex Blackwell being trapped LBW by the Sixers’ best bowler Sarah Aley (2-16).

Player-of-the-match Perry snared a smart outfield catch to dismiss Nida Dar to make it 6/67 before an enterprising 36-run seventh-wicket union between youngster Hannah Darlington (23) and veteran Rene Farrell (23) gave the Thunder some respectability, but nowhere enough to threaten the result.

The Sydney Sixers will next face the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday afternoon at Drummoyne Oval.

— with AAP

Originally published as ‘Adorable’ footage of the moment Ellyse Perry’s No.1 fans met their hero