Sydney Sixers cement top spot on the WBBL|02 ladder with an exciting four-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers at the SCG
Match Report:
ScorecardMatch Recap: Sixers defeat Scorchers
Match in a tweet: Smith stars with the ball before Healy's cameo with the bat allows the Sixers to cement top spot
The score: Perth Scorchers 9-129 (Graham 37, Smith 4-23) in 20 overs lost to Sydney Sixers (Healy 46) in 19.3 overs by four wickets
The hero: Lauren Smith's clever off-breaks continued to mesmerise the Scorchers batters throughout the innings. Bowling during the death overs, Smith’s subtle change of pace and stump-to-stump line resulted in the spinner ending with figures of 4-23. Smith was gifted her first wicket, when Nicole Bolton smashed a full toss to mid-wicket, but rest of the wickets were due to deception in flight and change of pace. Katherine Brunt (6) and Chloe Piparo (0) fell trying to hit Smith into the stands while Lauren Ebsary (37) was bowled by a fast skidding off-spinner that hit her middle stump.
The Finish: Sarah Aley might be known for her bowling but the Sixers medium pacer will be happy to be tagged as an allrounder tonight. Needing six off the last over, Aley executed two perfect sweep shots to guide the Sixers across the line.
The support cast: Alyssa Healy turned a tricky chase into a straightforward one with a cameo at the top of the order. Starting cautiously, Healy suddenly changed gears at the end of power play to put the Scorchers on the back foot. Healy plundered boundaries off international stars Brunt and Suzie Bates with consummate ease before blasting 16 runs from one over from off-spinner Emma King. Healy's cameo of 46 from 31 balls included six fours and a massive six.
The consolation act: At the end of the power play the Scorchers were 2-19 and needed someone to break the shackles. Step in Heather Graham, the talented allrounder, to disturb the rhythm of the Sixers bowlers by repeatedly sweeping and reverse sweeping to kick start her innings. Graham was equally well complimented by Ebsary, as the pair combined for a vital 45-run stand for the fourth wicket. Both players top-scored with 37 and managed to hit nine boundaries between them to help the Scorchers reach 9-129.
The stumping: Scorchers wicketkeeper Emily Smith was lucky to stump Sara McGlashan at such a pivotal point of the match. The ball from spinner Katie Hartshorn hit her in the chest, then deflected on to her shoulder before bouncing on to the stump. Lucky for Smith, McGlashan was a long way down and failed to make her ground.
The next stop: Sixers will now host the Hurricanes at North Sydney Oval on 13 January. In the meantime the Scorchers will return back home to take the Strikers on 14 January.