Perth Scorchers secured a spot in the Weber WBBL|11 Finals Series with a convincing seven-wicket win over Brisbane Heat and you can read the talking points from the game below.
Talking Points From The Win That Secured A Finals Spot
Keep Tuesday or Thursday Free
The Scorchers will be returning to the finals. In an added bonus, they will be returning to the WACA Ground to host a final, it’s just unclear when. The final game of the regular season between Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers will determine where the Scorchers finish and who they will play. A win to the Sixers will see the Scorchers host Melbourne Stars on Tuesday, while a Strikers win will see the Scorchers finish second and host the winner of Tuesday’s final, to be played on Thursday. Perth Scorchers will launch their BBL|15 campaign against familiar foe Sydney Sixers in a Wild West-themed encounter on Sunday 14 December at Optus Stadium.
Fans Flock To The WACA…Again
Another 3,084 Scorchers fans packed the WACA Ground for the fourth and final home game of the season. The WACA Ground was again a sea of orange and a loud one at that. With their team needing to win to play finals, Scorchers fans made plenty of noise to help lift their side to victory. It follows strong crowds for the Wild West, Ashes Afterparty and Pride fixtures and if the crowds from the regular season are anything to go by, it is going to be a bumper finals crowd to cheer on the Scorchers this week.
…And They Were Treated To A Mooney Masterclass
Little more than three weeks have passed since Beth Mooney made a stunning century against Brisbane at Allan Border Field, and she wasn’t finished with them there. Mooney anchored the Scorchers tricky chase of 165 and finished with a superb 94 off 61 balls, including her 50th score of 50 in what is another milestone in a storied career that doesn’t look to have an end date. Despite the required run rate edging towards nine runs per over, the Scorchers didn’t need to panic with Mooney at the crease. The unflappable left-hander looms as a trump card for the Scorchers in the finals.
Opening Bowlers Set The Tone
In what was a must-win game for the Scorchers, they couldn’t have asked for a better start with the ball in hand. Chloe Ainsworth removed Heat captain Charli Knott in the first over of the match, before Devine removed Lucinda Bourke in the next over. The double blow left the visitors in early trouble at 2-6.
Milestone For Mills Too
Off-spinner Lilly Mills notched her 50th WBBL wicket in the first innings of the match and it was the big one of Lauren Winfield-Hill. Mills later claimed the wicket of Chinelle Henry and finished with tidy figures of 2-23 from her four overs. After going wicketless in the first two matches of WBBL|11, Mills has taken at least one wicket in each of the remaining eight games of the season.
A Special Aboriginal Match
The annual Perth Scorchers Aboriginal Match saw the home side wearing their Aboriginal kit, designed by Nyoongar artist Joshua James in collaboration with Kunja woman and Scorcher Mikayla Hinkley, Scorchers allrounder Aaron Hardie and WA Cricket staff. The match will also saw the first edition of the Kaarla Markets being at the WACA Ground, over 90 kids participating in the WA Cricket Foundation program Kambarang Carnival and the largest barefoot circle in Australian Cricket.