Perth Scorchers Beat Sydney Thunder at the WACA to Make It Five WBBL Wins From Five

Perth Scorchers kept their perfect start to WBBL|12 on Wednesday 11 November, chasing down 160 against Sydney Thunder at the WACA Ground in Perth to win by four wickets with nine balls to spare. It was their fifth win in five matches, and they managed it without Beth Mooney, who missed the game with quad tightness.

The Thunder chose to bat and were 2-18 early on before Heather Knight and Anika Learoyd added 128 together. Knight made 71 from 46 balls with 12 boundaries, and Learoyd made 53 from 44 balls with five fours and a six. The Thunder finished on 5-159 from their 20 overs. Chloe Ainsworth took 1-22 from three overs, Fatima Sana 1-26 from four and Alana King 1-30 from four.

The Scorchers’ chase was steady rather than smooth. Sophie Devine scored 37 before Nadine de Klerk bowled her, Katie Mack made 31 before falling to Jemma Barsby, and Mikayla Friday was run out for 24. Sana went for a second-ball duck. At 6-133 the home side still needed 27 from 27 balls, but Chloe Piparo, unbeaten on 20 from 16 balls, and Ainsworth, unbeaten on 15 from eight, saw them home in 18.3 overs. Barsby finished with 1-19 and de Klerk with 1-30.

Mooney’s injury forced the only change to the Scorchers’ 13-player squad, with Taneale Peschel coming in. No timeline for Mooney’s return has been given.

Where the table stands

This was the Scorchers' second win over the Thunder in seven days. On 5 November at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney they won by 17 runs after making 3-183, with Mooney unbeaten on 80 from 55 balls and King taking 4-35.

The latest result leaves the Scorchers top of the table with 10 points. Sydney Sixers, with four wins from four, are now the only other unbeaten side. The Thunder have two wins and three defeats, and stay third on four points.

The Scorchers are at home again on 14 November against Adelaide Strikers at the WACA. The Thunder’s next game is against Melbourne Stars at Drummoyne Oval on 16 November.