Thank you! Your suggestion pointed me in the proper direction. The code i used was:

$sort->{SortFields}->Clear();
$sort->{SortFields}->Add($Sheet->Range("e$filter_row:e$filter_row"), x
+lSortOnValues, xlDescending, xlSortNormal);
$sort->{Header} = xlYes;
$sort->{MatchCase} = xlYes;
$sort->{Orientation} = xlTopToBottom;
$sort->{SortMethod} = xlPinYin;
$sort->Apply;
[download]

All is working as planned.