Perth Scorchers have kept their unbeaten start to WBBL|12 going thanks to efforts from stars Beth Mooney and Alana King
Sophie Devine’s team-first decision to self-retire paved the way for Perth Scorchers to defeat the Sydney Thunder by 17 runs and jump to the top of the table.
Following Devine’s exit, the Scorchers smashed 47 off the last three overs to post 3-183, before knocking over the Thunder for 166 in 19 overs.
While skipper Beth Mooney (80 not out) was all class en route to her competition record-extending 49th half-century, former captain Devine (42 off 39) was scratchy.
Held to 10 off her last 16 deliveries, the New Zealand veteran voluntarily ended her 39-ball vigil and England allrounder Freya Kemp made her way to the middle and crushed 30 off 10.
“Sometimes when you’re batting, no matter how hard you try, it just doesn’t come off, and Soph recognised that,” Mooney said.
“It’s hard watching a six-hitter walk off the field, but Freya came out and absolutely whacked it.”
Full ‘Moon’ breaks Thunder down to strike commanding 80*
Scorchers spearhead Chloe Ainsworth (2-24), for the second straight game, struck with the first delivery of the second innings, castling Georgia Voll, before removing the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield (34).
When Heather Knight (27) was stumped by Mooney off Devine (2-31), the match looked over.
The hosts gave themselves a sniff when Laura Harris (29) and Tahlia Wilson (25) blasted 35 off the two-over power-surge, before champion leg-spinner Alana King (4-35) was reintroduced and destroyed the lower order.
Can’t keep King down as spinner cleans up with four
Scorchers bowler and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana went off the ground sore during the second innings but returned to play out the match.
Mooney’s side now sits clear on top of the table, albeit with an extra game and win in hand over the Sydney Sixers.
Next up, Perth Scorchers face Melbourne Stars in a rematch of Monday’s low-scoring yet tight affair. The Stars will be out for revenge after suffering a 15-run loss in their last meeting.
Sydney Thunder will face cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers in its next match in a derby at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
Weber WBBL|12 Standings
Round 1
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
Drawn
D
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
Perth Scorchers Women
SCO
3
3
0
0
0
0
1.468
0
0
0
6
2
Sydney Sixers Women
SIX
2
2
0
0
0
0
2.25
0
0
0
4
3
Sydney Thunder Women
THU
3
2
1
0
0
0
0.739
0
0
0
4
4
Adelaide Strikers Women
STR
2
1
1
0
0
0
0.175
0
0
0
2
5
Melbourne Stars Women
STA
3
1
2
0
0
0
-0.3
0
0
0
2
6
Brisbane Heat Women
HEA
3
1
2
0
0
0
-0.347
0
0
0
2
7
Melbourne Renegades Women
REN
3
1
2
0
0
0
-1.385
0
0
0
2
8
Hobart Hurricanes Women
HUR
3
0
3
0
0
0
-1.792
0
0
0
0
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points