Although they have insisted at each stage (securing the Ashes, clinching the overall series, winning the T20 series) that they want to take it one game at a time, Lanning’s side are within touching distance of going the entire series unbeaten.
Since the Women’s Ashes was switched to a multi-format points-based series in 2013, no side has failed to win a single game in a series.
And if Australia take their ruthless streak to Bristol, it is hard at the moment to see where England could upset the form book for a consolation victory.
After their bowlers squeezed England to leave the required rate barely more than a run a ball, Australia’s top order again asserted their dominance.
England had taken the bold move of dropping vice-captain Anya Shrubsole, wicketless and expensive in her last two games, but her replacement Georgia Elwiss was thrashed for three fours by Alyssa Healy in the opening over as Australia again set the tone.
The hosts’ most effective bowlers were two players at opposite ends of their careers – with veteran seamer Katherine Brunt inducing a top edge from Healy and young spinner Ecclestone bowling Beth Mooney.
Lanning and Perry came together at 35-3 in the seventh over but in contrast to Lanning’s Chelmsford fireworks, they played sensible, risk-free cricket, not offering a chance and slowly but inexorably driving Australia towards victory.
Perry became the first cricketer, male or female, to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 internationals – while Lanning has now amassed 333 runs in T20 cricket against England since they last dismissed her.