Perth Scorchers captain Sophie Devine produced a match-winning performance with both bat and ball to dismantle the Melbourne Renegades by 30 runs at the WACA Ground on Tuesday night. The commanding victory keeps the Scorchers firmly in the hunt for a Women's Big Bash League finals berth heading into the final round of the home-and-away season.
Devine Delivers When It Matters
The inspirational skipper was the undisputed star of the show, first blasting a rapid 40 from just 28 deliveries to propel her side to a strong total. Her innings included three massive sixes, with two coming in a single over off Renegades quick Issy Wong. Devine then turned the game decisively with the ball, claiming two early wickets in the powerplay and finishing with outstanding figures of 4-25 from her four overs. Her early strikes left the Renegades reeling at 4-36, a position from which they never recovered.
Teammate Alana King, who is playing through a broken finger, was full of praise for her captain. "She is absolutely divine out there," King quipped. "Soph's found her groove... She always leads from the front, and I absolutely love having her as skipper."
Scorchers Post Competitive Total
Sent in to bat first, the Scorchers built a competitive score of 5-184 from their 20 overs. After the early loss of Beth Mooney for 21, Devine combined with Maddy Darke (36 from 32) for a steadying partnership. The innings then accelerated during the power surge, with Devine and later English import Freya Kemp providing the late fireworks. Kemp took 20 runs from a Sophie Molineux over before falling. A blistering cameo from Alana King, who smashed 22 from just eight balls, delighted the 2,047-strong crowd at the WACA and pushed the total beyond 180.
Renegades Chase Falls Short
The Renegades' run chase was in trouble from the very first over when Chloe Ainsworth removed the dangerous Deandra Dottin. Devine then took over, ripping through the top order. A fighting partnership between Georgia Wareham and wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum offered some resistance, but the required run rate continued to climb. King returned to claim Faltum's wicket, effectively ending the contest. The visitors eventually finished their 20 overs at 9-154, well short of the target.
The result sees the Perth Scorchers leapfrog the Melbourne Renegades on the WBBL ladder. More importantly, the comprehensive nature of the win provides a significant boost to the team's net run rate, which could prove crucial in the tight race for the finals. All eyes now turn to the Scorchers' final home-and-away match as they aim to secure a postseason spot.
