Perth Scorchers captain Sophie Devine has declared her side carries 'nothing to lose' as they prepare to host a crucial home final in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). The Scorchers secured hosting rights for the Knockout final after a decisive victory over the Brisbane Heat on Saturday, cementing their place in the finals series.
Home Ground Advantage a Key Boost
Despite narrowly missing out on a second-place finish, Devine emphasised the significant boost of playing in front of a home crowd at the WACA on Tuesday evening. The opportunity to host a final was confirmed after the Sydney Sixers secured second spot in a last-ball thriller against the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday morning.
"Finals series, it's all about one game at a time, so we're really excited, and to start at home gives us a big advantage," Devine said. "It would have been nice to finish second, but we are so excited to be able to host a final here at the WACA. It's something that we love doing."
Stars' Star Power Meets Scorchers' Hostility
The Scorchers' opponents, the Melbourne Stars, led by the formidable Meg Lanning, bring considerable firepower to Perth. Devine acknowledged the threat posed by Lanning, as well as players like Annabel Sutherland, Rhys McKenna, Jess Flintoff, and their overseas recruits.
However, the Scorchers skipper promised a hostile reception for the visiting team, leveraging their passionate home support. "We certainly want to bring a little hostility towards those Melbourne Stars coming across," Devine stated.
Building Momentum at the Perfect Time
Devine pointed to her team's building momentum and intimate knowledge of the local conditions as major positives heading into the high-stakes clash. "The group are really excited and has been trending in the right direction in the last couple of weeks," she said.
"The real positive we can take out of it is we're starting to build momentum, and that we get to play at home. These are conditions we know really well, so we'll hopefully really look to exploit that." With a vocal home crowd behind them, the Scorchers aim to turn their home ground advantage into a winning result in the knockout fixture.
