Perth Scorchers Women and Melbourne Stars Women faced-off in the 17th match of the T20 Spring Challenge 2025–26. It turned out to be a decisive victory for the Scorchers, who showcased a strong all-round performance to win by 52 runs at Blacktown Olympic Park No. 2 Oval.
Batting first after being put in by the Stars, the Scorchers faced a rocky start as opener Paige Scholfield was dismissed for a duck in the first over. However, Mikayla Hinkley and Chloe Piparo took charge, putting together a steady second-wicket partnership that blended caution with the right amount of aggression. Hinkley scored 30 off 33 balls, finding the boundary five times, while Piparo anchored the innings with a solid 39 runs off 43 balls, which included two fours and a six.
After Hinkley’s departure, Piparo continued building momentum alongside Maddy Darke. The pair navigated through the middle overs effectively, with Darke finishing her innings with an unbeaten 26 off 21 balls, including three boundaries. The lower middle order contributed important runs in the death overs, ensuring the Scorchers reached a competitive total of 132 for 5 in their 20 overs, with extras providing a useful contribution of 19 runs through wides and byes.
On the bowling side, the Stars showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the consistency needed for a strong performance. Ella Hayward had an impressive spell, taking 1 for 13 in her four overs, while Maisy Gibson matched her efforts with the same figures. Jasmine Kamboj (1/23) and Sophie Day (1/30) chipped in with timely wickets, but Georgia Prestwidge’s expensive three-over spell, costing 29 runs, relieved some pressure off the Scorchers.
In their chase of 133, the Melbourne Stars Women struggled to establish any rhythm from the outset. The Scorchers’ bowlers quickly took charge, claiming early wickets. Meg Lanning tried to anchor the innings with 14 off 16 balls, while Rhys McKenna contributed 12 off 18. Unfortunately, the Stars lost wickets in quick succession, plummeting from 25 for 1 to 44 for 5. Ines McKeon (11 off 29) and Ella Hayward (15 off 14) were the only other batters to reach double figures as the Stars found it difficult to create partnerships against Perth’s disciplined bowling attack.
Lilly Mills was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a match-winning spell of 4 wickets for just 11 runs in her four overs. Her precision and variations proved too challenging for the Stars. Amy Edgar also made a significant impact, taking 3 for 13 in 3.4 overs. Together, they dismantled the Stars’ batting lineup, leaving them all out for just 80 runs in 18.4 overs. Maddy White (1/17) and Ruby Strange (1/20) also chipped in, while Ebony Hoskin bowled economically even though she didn’t take a wicket.
This was a complete performance from the Perth Scorchers Women, demonstrating balance, teamwork, and execution. The batting effort led by Piparo and Hinkley set a solid foundation, while the bowling attack, highlighted by Mills and Edgar, wrapped up the match decisively. The Stars will need to reevaluate their batting strategies, as they struggled to form any lasting partnerships or solidify their chase.
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