The Perth Scorchers will walk onto the WACA ground on Saturday with their Women's Big Bash League finals destiny entirely in their own hands, facing a blockbuster final-round shootout against the Brisbane Heat.
Everything to Play For in Tense Finale
In a remarkably tight WBBL|11 season, every team except the Heat remains in contention for a finals berth. The standings are so congested that a single slip-up could shatter any side's championship aspirations, with just one game separating almost the entire ladder.
The Scorchers enter this decisive clash in strong form, having secured victories in two of their past three matches. Their most recent performance was a commanding 30-run win over the Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday night, a match where they posted a total above 180 runs for the second consecutive game.
English import Freya Kemp believes the team is peaking at the perfect moment. "It's nice to have a bit of momentum to go into that last group game," Kemp said. "I think towards the back end of the tournament, everyone has settled into their roles a bit more and started to click. That's really important going into the business end of things."
Learning from the Best at the WACA
Kemp, who blasted 20 runs from a single Sophie Molineux over during the Renegades match, said she is thriving in the Perth environment. "It's lovely to bat here at the WACA, and I'm loving it," she enthused. "I'm just loving my time here in Australia. It's a really lovely group here."
The 20-year-old all-rounder has benefited immensely from the guidance of two of the game's biggest stars: inspirational skipper Sophie Devine and Australian wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney. Kemp played with Devine in The Hundred in England and values her leadership. "She's very helpful and knowledgeable. You can ask her questions whenever you want," Kemp said. "Playing under her now has been great. She's a very inspirational leader."
She also highlighted the value of learning from fellow left-hander Beth Mooney. "She has been great to chat to about batting and everything really," Kemp added.
Batting Form Key to Avoiding Past Heartbreak
The Scorchers are determined to avoid a repeat of last season's heartbreak, where a batting collapse in their final match extinguished their finals hopes. The current batting lineup appears to be in far more robust form.
Kemp and fellow Englishwoman Paige Scholfield have found their footing in the crucial middle-order, providing powerful hitting during the death overs. This depth adds to the firepower at the top, where Beth Mooney currently sits in the top three run-scorers for the competition, mirroring her performance from last season.
Captain Sophie Devine led by example in the win over the Renegades, smashing 40 runs from just 28 deliveries before stepping up with the ball to claim four wickets.
"I think if we just stick to the brand of cricket we want to play, hopefully, we can get the win on Saturday," Kemp stated, summing up the team's focused mindset. "Hopefully, we can get that win and have our finals fate in our own hands."
All eyes will be on the WACA this Saturday as the Scorchers and Heat battle for a prized spot in the WBBL|11 finals series.
