The Sydney derby between the Thunder and the Sixers in the 31st game of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) was eventually washed out due to persistent rains.
In match no. 32, the home side, Adelaide Strikers led by skipper Tahlia McGrath were up against Perth Scorchers led by skipper Sophie Devine at the Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide.
The Adelaide Strikers top-order fires to post 169/6
The Strikers openers, Smriti Mandhana and Katie Mack got their side off to a flying start with a massive 81-run partnership after the Perth Scorchers skipper Sophie Devine won the toss and inserted the Strikers to bat. Skipper Sophie Devine ended Smriti Mandhana’s stay at the crease, providing the first breakthrough for the Perth Scorchers. She fell nine runs short of her well-deserved half-century.
Strikers soon lost the wicket of Katie Mack after Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal. Skipper Tahlia McGrath joined Laura Wolvaardt at the crease, and the pair carried the momentum, adding another 49 runs in the next 5.1 overs. The Strikers eventually ended up posting a total of 169/6 in their quota of 20 overs. Laura Wolvaardt (48 off 28 balls), Smriti Mandhana (41 off 29 balls), and Katie Mack (41 off 34 balls) contributed to the major chunk of around 77% of the Adelaide Strikers total on the board. Alana King (4-0-29-3), and skipper Sophie Devine (4-0-28-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for the Perth Scorchers.
Megan Schutt and spin key in Strikers’ big win
Unlike the Strikers, the Scorchers top-order crumbled while chasing a target of 170, as the home side reduced them to 17/4 inside four overs. Brooke Halliday joined skipper Sophie Devine at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 52-run stand for the 5th wicket to steady the ship to some extent. Anesu Mushangwe picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper Sophie Devine to provide the much-needed 5th breakthrough for the Adelaide Strikers.
The Perth Scorchers were eventually restricted to 139/8 in their quota of overs, falling 30 runs short of the target. The 46-run 8th wicket partnership between Alana King and Brooke Halliday significantly reduced the margin of defeat for the Perth Scorchers which could prove to be crucial in terms of the net run rate when the qualification is on the line. Brooke Halliday (47 off 44 balls), skipper Sophie Devine (35 off 31 balls), and Alana King (29* off 19 balls) starred with the bat for the Perth Scorchers. Megan Schutt (4-0-19-3), Amanda-Jade Wellington (4-0-26-2), and Anesu Mushangwe (4-0-35-2) were the star performers with the ball for the Adelaide Strikers.
Megan Schutt was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning spell of 4-0-19-3.
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