A century opening stand between Elyse Villani and Suzie Bates sees the Scorchers chase down 118 with 23 balls to spare
Match Report:
ScorecardMatch Recap: Scorchers defeat Stars
Match in tweet: Villani and Bates set-up a thumping win with a record opening partnership
The score: Melbourne Stars 6-117 (Lanning 30) in 20 overs lost to Perth Scorchers 1-118 (Villani 57, Bates 54*) in 16.1 overs by nine wickets
The hero: Elyse Villani made easy work of the target of 118 by smashing her third fifty of WBBL|02. The dynamic opening batter was at her best throughout her 44 balls stay, hitting the ball over the top and along the ground. Villani put on 116 with Suzie Bates for the opening wicket to crush the Stars and in the process put the Scorchers back on the winners’ list. Villani’s innings of 57 from 44 balls included eight blistering boundaries.
The support cast: Suzie Bates combined her touch play along with power play to remain unbeaten on 54. Bates put on an exhibition of how to play late cut, executing the shot on three instances, all of which resulted in boundaries. Bates was also quick to charge the quick bowlers and deposit them over the leg side, as she put the pressure right back on the Stars. The Scorchers skipper also managed to pick up a wicket and inflicted a sensational run out.
The stat: Villani and Bates’ opening partnership of 116 is the highest for any wicket in WBBL|02, eclipsing the 95 runs scored by Hurricanes pair Georgia Redmayne and Heather Knight.
The moment: It was an unfortunate way to be dismissed but probably the only way to get Meg Lanning out, given the form she is in at the moment. Jess Cameron thumped one back down the pitch, bowler Katie Hartshorn stuck her hand out and deflected the ball on to the stumps to find Lanning short of her crease. The wicket of Lanning halted the Stars’ charge as the Scorchers restricted them to a modest score of 6-117.
The consolation act: Lanning started with delightful drive on the up which rocketed to the fence off Katherine Brunt. The Stars skipper then broke the shackles in the power play by hitting spinner Emma King for a six and a four in the fifth over to kick start the Stars’ innings. Lanning clipped Brunt over the top on couple of occasions to move swifty to 30 from 27 balls. But just as she was imposing herself an unfortunate run out cut short her innings.
The next stop: The Scorchers now head north to tackle the Sixers at Hurstville Oval, while the Renegades have a couple of days off to prepare for Saturday’s local derby against the Stars at Etihad Stadium.