Perth Scorchers Women produced a disciplined all-round performance to defeat Melbourne Stars Women by 15 runs in the eighth match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 at Melbourne on November 2. After posting 124/9 in their 20 overs, the Scorchers successfully defended their total, bowling Melbourne Stars out for 109 in 18.1 overs. Sophie Devine and Alana King led the charge with the ball, while the Stars struggled to build the partnerships needed to chase down a target of 125.
The Perth Scorchers innings began with Katie Mack and captain Beth Mooney looking to provide a steady start. However, the opening partnership was broken at 37 in 4.2 overs when Mack was caught by wicketkeeper Amy Jones off Charlie Dean for 12 from 17 deliveries, including one four. Mooney continued alongside Devine, but the Scorchers lost their second wicket at 55 in 6.4 overs as Mooney departed for 17 off 15 balls, caught by Jones off Dani Gibson. The early wickets prevented Perth from building the strong foundation they needed.
Sophie Devine attempted to stabilise the innings, scoring 11 from 13 balls with two boundaries. Her stay ended at 70 in 8.2 overs when she was caught by Annabel Sutherland off Dean. Freya Kemp briefly injected momentum into the innings with an aggressive 10 off just five balls, striking two fours at a strike rate of 200. However, she fell at 70 in 7.6 overs, caught by Mooney off Rhys McKenna, leaving Perth in a challenging position. Mikayla Hinkley managed three runs before being trapped lbw by Sophie Day, while Chloe Piparo scored one before being caught by Jones off Maisy Gibson. Fatima Sana also made only one run, caught by Day off Maisy Gibson, as the Scorchers slipped to 76/7.
With the innings threatening to collapse, Chloe Ainsworth and Alana King provided an important late contribution. Ainsworth scored 16 from 17 deliveries, including two fours, while King added 18 off 21 balls, also hitting two boundaries. Their partnership helped Perth move towards a competitive total. Ainsworth was bowled by Charlie Dean at 96 in 15.2 overs, and King was run out by Sutherland at 121 in 19.1 overs. Lily Mills remained unbeaten on 13 from 16 balls, while Amy Edgar finished not out on one. Perth Scorchers Women eventually reached 124/9, with 21 extras, including four leg-byes, 12 wides and five penalty runs.
For Melbourne Stars Women, the bowling effort was led by Charlie Dean, who claimed 2/29 in four overs, and Sophie Day, who returned 2/17 at an economy rate of 4.25. Maisy Gibson also took two wickets, conceding just 10 runs in three overs. Rhys McKenna picked up one wicket for 18 runs in two overs, while Dani Gibson claimed one for three runs in her only over. Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland went wicketless, conceding 18 and 20 runs respectively in their three-over spells.
Chasing 125, Melbourne Stars Women suffered an immediate setback when Rhys McKenna was caught by Mooney off Ainsworth for a duck in the first over. Captain Meg Lanning and Amy Jones attempted to rebuild the innings, but Jones departed for 18 from 16 balls, having struck three fours, when she was caught by Ainsworth off Devine at 30 in 3.4 overs. Sutherland followed soon after, scoring a two-ball duck before being caught by Ainsworth off Devine, leaving Melbourne at 30/3 in 3.6 overs.
Naomi Stalenberg managed just one run before being caught and bowled by King at 43 in 6.3 overs. Lanning remained the main hope for the Stars, scoring 41 from 36 deliveries with three fours and one six. However, she was dismissed at 79 in 13.1 overs, caught by Fatima Sana off Edgar. Charlie Dean added 13 from 18 balls before being stumped by Mooney off Devine at 79 in 12.4 overs, and Dani Gibson scored eight from 11 deliveries before falling at 102 in 16.2 overs, caught by Mooney off Devine.
The lower order could not rescue Melbourne’s chase. Georgia Prestwidge scored 13 from 13 balls, including a six, before being caught by Kemp off Mills at 109 in 18.1 overs. Kim Garth made six off four balls before being trapped lbw by King, while Maisy Gibson was bowled by King for a duck. With nine extras, Melbourne Stars Women were bowled out for 109 in 18.1 overs, falling 15 runs short of the target.
Devine was the standout performer with the ball, taking four wickets for 19 runs in four overs. King delivered an equally influential spell, claiming 3/17 in four overs, including one maiden. Ainsworth took one wicket for 15 runs in three overs, while Edgar finished with 1/20 in three overs and Mills claimed 1/12 in 2.1 overs. Fatima Sana conceded 21 runs in two overs without taking a wicket.
Loves all things female cricket