The 7th edition of Australia’s domestic league for Women, the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) officially draws to a closure tomorrow after over a month-long display of record-breaking performances, the rise of the young talents, great bonding, and above all fine sporting spirit, bringing together women cricketers from different countries.
The 2021-22 edition which began on October 14 following strict Covid-19 norms, will witness a new WBBL champion on November 27 when this year’s table-toppers Perth Scorchers take on Adelaide Strikers who though were the last ones to the knockouts, have got the better of the two at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
Match Preview
Squads-:
Perth Scorchers- Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Betts, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sophie Devine (Captain), Heather Graham, Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Taneale Peschel, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Lisa Griffith, Lilly Mills
Adelaide Strikers- Tahlia McGrath (Captain), Darcie Brown, Katie Mack, Madeline Penna, Bridget Patterson, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt, Tegan McPharlin, Sarah Coyte, Jemma Barsby, Dane van Niekerk, Nell Bryson-Smith, Annie O’Neil, Megan Schutt, Meagan Dixon
Players to watch out for:
Beth Mooney
Leading the individual run-scorer tally for the current season with 528 runs as well as the all-time WBBL tally, Beth Mooney has played a crucial role in the Perth Scorchers’ journey to the Finals with the bat as well as the wicketkeeper. She has smashed a century and four half-centuries in the 13 matches she played this season at the strike rate of 132.00.
Lilly Mills
Lilly Mills is the leading wicket-taker for the Scorchers this season, placed at the fourth position in the most wickets tally. Though with 16 wickets in 13 matches this season she is tied with her teammate Alana King, a better economy takes her ahead of Alana in the tally. She has an economy of 6.83 with her best spell for the season being 4/25.
Katie Mack
Just a position below Mooney in the highest run-scorer tally of the season is Katie Mack with 507 runs at the strike rate of 117.36 which includes five half-centuries with the best score of an unbeaten 89. Mack has remained not out in most of the 14 chances she has got to bat in the 16 matches she played.
Amanda-Jade Wellington
If the Scorchers have the leading run-scorer of the season, the Strikers have the leading wicket-taker of the season. Amana-Jade Wellington who has got 22 wickets in 16 matches lead the tally after an unbelievable 5-wicket haul in the Eliminator in which she gave away just 8 runs along with a maiden, leaving Brisbane Heat in a lot of trouble.
Weather:
Though there is expected to be around 57% cloud cover but, thankfully, there aren’t any chances of rain. The maximum temperature would be 33 degrees Celsius while the minimum would go down to 18 degrees Celsius
Pitch:
The Perth Stadium hasn’t had a match yet this WBBL, but we can expect a good wicket which might get flat as the game progresses.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Beth Mooney (captain), Sophie Devine (vice-captain), Katie Mack, Laura Wolvaardt, Dane van Niekerk, Tahlia McGrath, Marizanne Kapp, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Lilly Mills, Alana Kings, Darcie Brown
Match Details:
Date- Saturday, November 27, 2021
Time- 1:40 PM IST
Venue- Perth/Optus Stadium, Perth, Western Australia
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