In an important contest between Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers. The Scorchers lost the match by 6 runs. Stars batting first scored 179 losing 8 wickets. Perth failed to reach the target and lost the match by 6 runs. Perth Scorchers’ chances of making the WBBL playoffs are over with this loss.
MS vs PS: Match Progression
When there were seven deliveries left, Alana King, who had 26 off nine balls, had a chance to win the game dramatically. Sasha Moloney’s no-ball at the start of the last over increased the suspense, but the Stars managed to hold on.
Before Sasha Moloney (28* off 16) made a cameo at the end, openers Lauren Winfield-Hill (36 off 25 balls) and Sophie Reid (24 off 13) sparked the start of the innings.
With Amy Edgar in top form, the Scorchers were able to limit the damage to some extent by taking 3 for 14 in the power surge, the best mark in the WBBL playoffs this season.
In response, Beth Mooney, the Scorchers’ top run-scorer in the league, was lost early. Both teams were monitoring the DLS needed rate as rain started to pour during the run pursuit.
King and Marizanne Kapp (23 off 12), who nearly helped the Scorchers win, came close. In the WBBL, Annabel Sutherlands’ 58 runs allowed were the most by a Stars bowler.
MS vs PS: Outcome
With 13 total points, the Scorchers are still in fifth place, two points outside the top four, and their defeat ensures that the second-placed Brisbane Heat will advance to the finals.
With 21 points overall, Sydney Sixers are in first place and will host the WBBL championship game on November 26.
The Hurricanes and Strikers are third and fourth, respectively, on 16 and 15 points. The Strikers trail the Hurricanes by 0.31 while the Hurricanes have a net run rate of 0.54.
MS vs PS: What’s Ahead for Scorchers?
Although the outcome does not rule out the Scorchers from competing in the finals, they must now defeat the Melbourne Renegades in Melbourne on Sunday and pray that either the Hurricanes lose to the Sixers or the Strikers lose to Sydney Thunder. If Heat defeat Stars in Moe, they will take second place.
The number of runs scored during the powerplay for the Stars in WBBL season was 44 after four overs versus the Scorchers.