WBBL wrap: Stars go top as Perth scorch the Sixers

Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers by 36 runs

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By Sam Ferris at Drummoyne Oval

A blazing century from Sophie Devine powered the Perth Scorchers to a dominant victory at Hurstville Oval and inflict the first defeat of the season on the Sydney Sixers.

Devine crunched 103 from 68 balls and sent seven deliveries over the boundary – and in some cases, over the fence – as the Scorchers posted a huge 4-183 from their 20 overs.

The Sixers would have been confident in chasing down the imposing total with one of the most intimidating top orders in the competition, but two early wickets to seamer Taneale Peschel stymied the run chase which fell 36 runs short despite a career-best 68no from South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp.

Devine's demolition job was her second WBBL century and first for her new club having switched from Adelaide in the off-season, the Kiwi teaming up with Beth Mooney who left the two-time defending champions Brisbane Heat in the winter.

On paper, Devine and Mooney have the potential to be the deadliest opening partnership in the tournament and on Sunday they lived up to the hype, combining for 151, Perth's second-highest partnership for any wicket.

Mooney made 60, a fabulous innings in its own right but compared the Devine assault at the other end, it was very much the supporting act.

Devine hit off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner for a four and three consecutive sixes in the fifth over, hit another pair of sixes to cow corner off Ellyse Perry before muscling the Sixers skipper over cover for another six in what could be the shot of the tournament.

It was only fitting that she brought up her hundred with a six, a sweetly timed lofted straight drive off Kapp to reach three figures from 65 balls.

No bowler was spared but Perry copped the bulk of the onslaught to record figures of 0-40 from four overs.

Perry could not mirror Devine's display with the bat, trapped lbw by Peschel for six before the Scorchers quick removed Gardner in identical fashion.

Alyssa Healy, who had scored two WBBL centuries at the venue, fell for 18 before Kapp and Erin Burns (34) put on 62 for the fourth wicket.

While both batters kept the scoreboard ticking over, they could not manage the lusty blows Devine landed, despite Kapp striking five fours and two sixes and looking very comfortable at the crease.

The loss is the Sixers’ first of the season having gone undefeated through six matches while the win moved the Scorchers from seventh to fifth on the WBBL|06 ladder.

Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat by 23 runs

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By Laura Jolly at North Sydney Oval

The Melbourne Stars have stamped their authority on WBBL|06, defeating reigning champions Brisbane Heat by 23 runs at North Sydney Oval despite a blistering 81 not out from Grace Harris.

Captain Meg Lanning set the tone with a 23-ball half-century scored inside the Powerplay, striking six fours and three sixes in a masterclass of T20 batting.

It took an Amelia Kerr wrong’un to bring the Australian captain undone on 54 from 25 deliveries, with the New Zealand leg-spinner striking a second huge blow when she trapped Elyse Villani lbw for 25.

Stars imports Mignon du Preez (12) and Natalie Sciver (7) did little damage, but the start made by Lanning allowed those following to bat with aggression, and a series of useful cameos including Annabel Sutherland’s 23 off 20 balls and Alana King’s 17 off eight carried the Stars to an imposing total of 9-177.

Recalled pace bowler Holly Ferling struck the first blow in reply, as Heat opener Georgia Redmayne was caught behind for 19, and Brisbane’s task became even harder when captain Jess Jonassen was run out for one.

Elevated to the top of the order, Harris was typically aggressive and hammered her way to a half-century from 36 deliveries, but she struggled to find a partner to stick with her.

Maddy Green (0), Laura Kimmince (2) and Amelia Kerr (3) fell in quick succession, with the Stars spin combo of King (2-22) and Sophie Day (1-25) maintaining the pressure.

Georgia Voll demonstrated why at 17 years of age she has been dubbed Harris 2.0 when she smashed a huge six into the grandstand during her innings of 21 off 15 balls.

While it was not enough to snatch an unlikely win, Harris’s action packed unbeaten 81 from 52 balls provided plenty of entertainment as she peppered the fans at North Sydney Oval with four sixes, as Brisbane finished their 20 overs on 8-154.

Adelaide Strikers beat Melbourne Renegades by six runs

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By Laura Jolly at North Sydney Oval

The Adelaide Strikers have held on to claim a tense six-run victory over the Melbourne Renegades at North Sydney Oval.

The Renegades looked down and out at 7-84 in pursuit of the Strikers’ 9-127, but No.8 Carly Leeson (31no off 17) took the game down to the final over as she smacked two sixes – including one enormous shot onto the roof – to leave her side needing 18 off the final over.

Two more boundaries and a no ball left the Renegades needing eight off two, but Strikers pacer Tahlia McGrath held her nerve to deny the Melbourne club a second win in as many days.

Earlier, the Strikers were in strife when Tahlia McGrath (12), Katie Mack (2), Laura Wolvaardt (3) and Bridget Patterson (0) all fell cheaply, leaving the Adelaide team 4-25.

West Indies allrounder Stafanie Taylor launched a rescue effort, smacking 60 from 48 deliveries and was well-supported by both Amanda-Jade Wellington (21) and several fielding errors from the Renegades, who twice missed run out opportunities.

New Zealand replacement player Rosemary Mair (2-14) continued to impress with the ball, as did spinner Sophie Molineux (3-20).

The Renegades’ top-order batting wobbles continued, with Molineux taking on the arm of Sarah Coyte for an ill-judged quick single, only to be caught short of her crease, out for four.

Lizelle Lee (2) was trapped lbw attempting to sweep Megan Schutt, before Amy Satterthwaite (1) was castled by 17-year-old quick Darcie Brown, leaving the Renegades 3-12.

Georgia Wareham continued to impress with the bat, sharing a 47-run stand with Courtney Webb before the latter was caught at mid-off for 14.

Needing 69 from 49, it was down to Wareham who found the boundary five times and cleared it once, but when her charge ended on 42 thanks to a brilliant diving catch in the deep from Bridget Patterson, the wheels came off for the Renegades.

Josie Dooley (8) and Molly Strano (5) followed in quick succession, before Leeson’s late fireworks ended in vain.

Sydney Thunder beat Hobart Hurricanes by one run

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By Sam Ferris at Drummoyne Oval

An all-round display from England captain Heather Knight inspired the Sydney Thunder to a thrilling victory over the Hobart Hurricanes to kick off a super Sunday of Rebel WBBL action.

Knight scored an unbeaten 61 with the bat, claimed 2-12 with the ball and took a superb outfield catch as the Thunder defended their 7-129 despite a heroic innings by Hobart opener Rachel Priest.

Priest's 83 from 64 balls included 13 boundaries and looked certain to get the Hurricanes home, but as wickets fell around her the runs dried up to fall short by the smallest of margins, just one run.

The Hurricanes were cruising with Priest at the crease and needing 22 from the final 24 balls with seven wickets in hand but an epic collapse shifted the momentum to the Thunder.

Needing 11 from the final over, Priest's fourth six left the equation to three runs from the final two balls, but Hannah Darlington produced two brilliant deliveries and Priest could only manage to squeeze a single from the final ball.

Sydney's win comes less than 24 hours after their shock defeat to the Melbourne Renegades, but that upset did not weigh too heavily on the hosts who move back top of the WBBL|06 ladder.

Knight's knock was the only score above 20 for the Thunder having been sent into bat by Hobart skipper Corinne Hall.

English compatriot Tammy Beaumont post 18 before she was cleverly run out by Nicola Carey, whose backhand flick found the non-striker's stumps for the run out.

The target of 130 looked 20 runs short when Priest hit 13 from the first over and motored to her half-century from 37 balls.

But like Knight, Priest had little help – Hayley Matthews' 14 was the next best score as the Thunder's wily attack, led by Shabnim Ismail's 2-13 from four overs, turned the screws late.

The Hurricanes will look to get back in the winner's circle on Tuesday against the Renegades, while the Thunder face the Heat a day later.

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