The landmark 10th season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) has reached its knockout stage, with the top four teams locked in after a highly competitive season. With the league stages now concluded, Ellyse Perry has once again finished as the leading run-scorer, while Alana King tops the wickets tally, and Chloe Ainsworth has been recognized as the Young Gun of the season.
Ellyse Perry, Golden Bat WBBL 2024
For the third time in the WBBL’s 10-year history, Ellyse Perry has finished the league stage as the highest run-scorer. She previously topped the charts in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, amassing 552 and 778 runs, respectively. A cornerstone of the Sydney Sixers since the tournament’s inception, Perry has accumulated an impressive 4,689 runs from 131 matches, averaging 48.84 with a strike rate of 109.09. In addition to her batting achievements, she has also contributed with the ball, claiming 70 wickets from 121 innings at an economy rate of 7.09.
Continuing to evolve her game in the shortest format, Ellyse Perry showcased her class once again this season, amassing 424 runs from 10 matches at an impressive average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 137.21. With the ball, she also contributed, taking six wickets at an economy rate of 7.30. Perry started the season strong with back-to-back fifties (81 and 54) and built on that momentum with scores of 31*, a season-best 86, and 48* in subsequent games. After a brief lull, she ended the league stages on a high with scores of 67 and 33.
Alana King, Golden Arm WBBL 2024
With a career-best WBBL season tally of 20 wickets, 29-year-old leg-spinner Alana King has emerged as the leading wicket-taker for the first time, narrowly edging out Sam Bates, who finished with 19. Across 114 WBBL bowling outings, King has claimed an impressive 126 wickets at an economy rate of 6.72, including a maiden five-wicket haul this season to rewrite her career-best figures. A reliable lower-order batter as well, King has contributed 641 runs from 71 innings at a strike rate of 108.82.
After six seasons with the Melbourne Stars, Alana King made the switch to the Perth Scorchers and has delivered consistently, finishing with 16, 17, 19, and now 20 wickets in consecutive WBBL campaigns. This season, she averaged 13.30 with an economy rate of 7.06, claiming 20 wickets from 10 matches, including a career-best 5/16 against the Brisbane Heat. With only three wicketless outings, King demonstrated remarkable consistency, not only taking her maiden five-wicket haul but also producing four three-wicket hauls during the season.
Chloe Ainsworth, Young Gun WBBL 2024
The 19-year-old pacer Chloe Ainsworth has become the first Perth Scorchers player to claim the Young Gun award, achieving the honor despite taking fewer wickets this season compared to her debut tally of 15 last year. In her maiden WBBL campaign, Ainsworth impressed with 15 wickets from 13 matches at an economy rate of 7.56, leaving a lasting impact and establishing herself as a rising star in the league.
Building on her impressive debut, Chloe Ainsworth has continued to shine, claiming 12 wickets from 10 matches this season at an average of 18.58 and an impressive economy rate of 5.86. Her improved control and effectiveness have been evident in her ability to dismiss key international players, including Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, Chamari Athapaththu, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Alice Capsey. She has shown marked improvement with the bat, contributing 94 runs with the highest score of 41, further solidifying her reputation as a promising bowling all-rounder.
Neither the Sydney Sixers nor the Perth Scorchers have made it to the knockouts this season. The Melbourne Renegades, finishing as table toppers, have secured a direct berth in the Final. The second-seeded Brisbane Heat will compete in the Challenger, while the Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes are set to face off in the Eliminator as the 2024 WBBL knockouts get underway.
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