The Perth Scorchers' defensive nous with the ball proved dividends as they bowled out the Melbourne Stars after scoring just 124 with the bat.
Scorchers down Stars in a tight tussel
Perth Scorchers veteran allrounder Sophie Devine showcased all her class with the ball to inspire a 15-run WBBL win over the Melbourne Stars.
The Scorchers struggled to make 9-124 at Junction Oval on Monday night before 37-year-old Devine captured 4-19, hitting the two-paced deck hard and taking the key wickets of Australia allrounder Annabel Sutherland (0) and England captain Charlie Dean (13).
Dean was brilliantly stumped by new Scorchers captain Beth Mooney when the Stars appeared in control at 4-79 before taking another slick catch standing up to the stumps as drizzle fell throughout the run chase.
"It was all about trying to get the ball on the stumps," player of the match Devine said.
"Moons probably made me look better than I was. It was a whole team effort which is what we really pride ourselves on."
When Stars captain Meg Lanning (41) fell to make it 5-79 the visitors were cock-a-hoop.
Scorchers legspinner Alana King claimed a double-wicket maiden in the 18th over to finish with 3-17 in a class display as the Stars were bundled out for 109 in 18.1 overs.
Earlier, the Scorchers were cruising at 0-36 after the powerplay but the introduction of spin derailed them.
Former Scorcher, current Stars and England wicketkeeper Amy Jones was brilliant and took two legside screamers among her four catches, enhancing her reputation as one of the game's best when standing up to the stumps.
Perth opener Mooney, who has assumed the captaincy from long-serving skipper Devine, made 17. That was only bettered by allrounder King (18) who was run out when unable to run after slamming a shot into her own foot.
The Scorchers started their bowling innings perfectly as Chloe Ainsworth dismissed Rhys McKenna caught behind off the first ball, and again had a hand in the next two wickets in the field.
Ainsworth's first catch - another diving catch in the ring - put the Stars on the backfoot despite Lanning's resistance. But when she fell in the 14th over with scores of 6-79, the home side quickly faltered as the Scorchers claimed the win with 11 balls remaining.
The Scorchers will face the similarly undefeated Thunder at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday, while the Stars will host the Sixers at Junction Oval on Friday at 7:10pm.