Perth Scorchers notch up statement win against the Thunder

Below are several key talking points from another impressive performance, with the Scorchers to face Melbourne Stars in a neutral home game at North Sydney Oval on Sunday before returning to familiar WACA Ground surrounds. 

Statement win 
Becky Grundy’s side is building an impressive catalogue of victories to start the season, each done differently. The first, a clinical pursuit at home completed in quick time with minimal fuss. The second, a lionhearted defense of a total that felt underwhelming, at least initially. And tonight the visitors paced their innings superbly to post a strong score against an undefeated Thunder outfit, before holding their nerve late to come out on top. While it’s far too early to get carried away, the Scorchers will take significant belief from the way they’ve started their tournament. 

Dozer does it again
Chloe Ainsworth is something else. For the second consecutive match, the star they call ‘Dozer’ struck with the first ball of an innings by running through Thunder match-winner Georgia Voll. Seven commentator Katie Martin shrewdly noted both Ainsworth’s in-swinger and knack for taking early wickets, moments before leaping from her seat as the ball hooped past Voll’s bat and clattered off stump. Ainsworth returned to dismiss another danger player in Phoebe Litchfield, who scored 34 from 18 before lapping one to fine leg. Again central to the Scorchers’ fortunes, Ainsworth conceded just one run from her final over, finishing with 2-24.

Devine’s selfless act
She no longer carries the title of captain, but Sophie Devine displayed admirable leadership and selflessness by becoming the first Scorcher in Big Bash Leagues history to retire themselves mid-innings. Devine was ticking things over on 42 from 39 as part of an 85-run stand with Beth Mooney but couldn’t find her usual fluency. Rather than absorb more strike, Devine – who earlier copped a yorker to the foot – made the bold call to close her innings at the end of the 17th over and give powerful left-hander Freya Kemp enough time to make an impact. The decision proved a masterstroke, allowing the Scorchers to accelerate late and post 3-183.

Freakish Freya in rare air
Kemp, meanwhile, played her part to perfection with a blistering 10-ball 30. The languid left-hander signaled her intent during a range-hitting session the day prior, peppering the grass banks at Drummoyne Oval. She carried that form into the match by hammering two or her first four balls into the boundary and another over it. A couple more straight sixes sent the total skyward before Kemp’s incredible cameo ended when Voll snaffled a neat catch at long-off. From a decent sample size of 14 innings in orange, the Englishwoman boasts by some distance the highest strike rate (159.58) of any Scorcher in the WBBL. No others have come close to striking at 150 with the quirky exception of fast bowler Holly Ferling (8no from four in her only innings).

King pin has last laugh
Never write off Alana King. Fresh from taking a rare double-wicket maiden in her last start, King was at the forefront again with 4-35. The leg-spinner conceded 17 from her first ever, slowed the scoring rate in her second, bowled Laura Harris in her third, and added another three scalps – Hannah Darlington (over 18.3), Jemma Barsby (18.5) and Samantha Bates (18.6) – in the game’s penultimate set. King now holds the Golden Cap with a competition-high eight wickets, leading Devine by one.  

Customary Mooney magic 
Another day, another Mooney half-century – her 49th in the WBBL, no less. This time the skipper carried her bat for a lazy 80no from 55 deliveries with eight fours and a slog sweep six to pass 50. Mooney has now scored more than 900 runs against both Sydney teams, and added yet another Player of the Match award to her marathon-length list of accolades. The only stat that she’ll care about, of course, is her 3-0 record as full-time Scorchers captain. 

Perth Scorchers Weber WBBL|12 Squad: Chloe Ainsworth, Sophie Devine (NZ), Amy Edgar, Ebony Hoskin, Mikayla Friday, Freya Kemp (ENG), Alana King, Katie Mack, Ines McKeon, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney ©, Chloe Piparo, Taneale Peschel, Fatima Sana (PAK), Ruby Strange.

Weber Women’s Big Bash League – Game 4
Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars
Sunday 8 November. First Ball 2:10PM AWST
North Sydney Oval, Sydney. 
Live: Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Cricket, ABC Grandstand

Weber Women’s Big Bash League – Game 5
Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder
Wednesday 11 November. First Ball 4:10PM AWST
WACA Ground, Perth. 
Live: Kayo Cricket, ABC Grandstand

Weber Women’s Big Bash League – Game 6
Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
Saturday 14 November. First Ball 4:10PM AWST
WACA Ground, Perth. 
Live: Kayo Cricket, ABC Grandstand