Villani ready for change in fortunes

Perth Scorchers skipper Elyse Villani hopes her match-winning knock against Sydney Sixers in Tuesday's Rebel WBBL final rematch marks a turning point in what's been a tough summer to date for the explosive batter.

Villani cleared the ropes twice on her way to 74 not out from 61 deliveries in Wollongong, her first half-century in any format since scoring a Women's National Cricket League century for the Western Fury in October.

It followed a lean Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes campaign for the 28-year-old, who scored 95 runs at 13.57 across the three ODIs, one Test and three T20s, with her top score of 38 coming in the opening one-dayer in Brisbane.

But Villani believes the lean run was more a matter of poor fortune, rather than bad form.

"I've been feeling really good with the bat for the last few months but unfortunately sometimes I think it comes down to a little bit of luck," Villani said following Tuesday's game.

"So I'd say I'm not out of form but out of luck.

"I left that way with Ashes, but I'm just glad I can get some runs on the board now and hopefully the lean run (is over)."

Villani shared a 106-run opening stand with international teammate Nicole Bolton on Tuesday, who also cleared the ropes twice on her way to a 46-ball 42.

"We do (complement each other), we've got quite different games and they complement each other most of the time," Villani said.

The Victorian-born batter, who now calls Western Australia home, hopes to carry the momentum from Tuesday's game into Friday's clash with Brisbane Heat at Allan Border Field.

The Scorchers claimed an 18-run victory against the Heat during the WBBL|03 Opening Weekend on Sunday and are one of only two teams to remain undefeated following the opening three days of the tournament.

But the Perth team will be wary of a star-studded Brisbane outfit which includes current Australia stars Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen and Delissa Kimmince alongside internationals Deandra Dottin and Laura Wolvaardt.

Looking further ahead, Villani will also be keen to ensure there are no questions in the minds of the national selectors when it comes to picking their Australian squad to embark on a limited-overs tour of India in March.

WBBL|03 will be the major chance for tour hopefuls to impress, with less than a month between the tournament final and the squad's departure for the subcontinent. 

One round of the 50-over Women's National Cricket League will also be played following the end of the Big Bash, on February 16-18, before the final on February 24.