Image: Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Thunder in WBBL / © OneCricket
In a dominant display, Perth Scorchers claimed a decisive 74-run win against Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League at Sydney. The Scorchers set an imposing target of 172, with key contributions from Sophie Devine, who scored a brisk 48 off 34 balls, and Dayalan Hemalatha, who struck 41 off 26. Their efforts helped Scorchers reach 171/7 despite early breakthroughs from Thunder’s bowlers Chamari Athapaththu (2/18) and Shabnim Ismail (2/31).
In reply, Thunder’s chase faltered early, with Athapaththu dismissed for a duck in the opening over. Despite a steady 27 from captain Phoebe Litchfield, Thunder lost wickets at regular intervals, collapsing to 97 all out in 19.3 overs. Chloe Ainsworth dazzled with the ball for Scorchers, claiming 2/15, while Amy Edgar’s 3/19 wrapped up the Thunder innings.
The Scorchers’ comprehensive win reinforced their strong position in the league, with Ainsworth’s impactful performance earning her the Player of the Match title. This ultimate face-off between the table-toppers was a complete package of entertainment in which the Scorchers had their last laugh.