Cricket

The Adelaide Strikers dealt a significant blow to the Perth Scorchers' WBBL finals aspirations with a commanding 30-run victory at Karen Rolton Oval.The Strikers, who have won the past two WBBL titles, posted a competitive 169 for 6, thanks to contributions from Laura Wolvaardt (41), Smriti Mandhana (41), and Katie Mack (41).The Scorchers' chase got off to a disastrous start as Megan Schutt wreaked havoc with the new ball, dismissing Maddy Darke, Dayalan Hemalatha, and Amy Edgar in quick succession. Beth Mooney and Brooke Halliday attempted to salvage the innings, but the task proved too daunting.Schutt finished with impressive figures of 3 for 19, while Alana King claimed 3 for 29 for the Strikers.The victory lifted the Strikers from the bottom of the ladder to seventh place, while the Scorchers remain in fifth spot with two games remaining. However, the Scorchers' run rate deficit to fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes makes their finals chances appear slim.

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll emerged as the hero in a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers at the MCG, propelling her team back to the summit of the WBBL standings.Despite dropping five catches, Thunder's bowlers managed to restrict Scorchers to 170 for 5, with Beth Mooney leading the charge with a blistering 97 from 64 deliveries. However, Voll stole the show with an unbeaten 97 from 56 balls, guiding Thunder to victory with just one over remaining.Voll's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 13 fours and a six. It surpassed her previous best of 92 against Adelaide Strikers earlier this month. The 21-year-old attributed her success to taking inspiration from Hobart Hurricanes opener Lizelle Lee's recent record-breaking performances."I watched Lizelle Lee bat the other day and noticed that I've been trying to go a little bit hard too early," Voll said. "I sort of just took my time a little bit more and took the strike off Atha [Chamari Athapaththu] at the start there as well. It was just sort of lucky to come off."Voll's 64-run partnership with Heather Knight proved crucial for Thunder. Knight's dismissal by Amy Edgar gave Scorchers hope, but Voll remained unyielding, finding support from Anika Learoyd to guide her team home.Mooney's innings was equally impressive, despite the dropped catches. She was put down three times before reaching 20 and again after scoring a half-century. Sophie Devine also contributed with 44 runs, but her dismissal by Taneale Peschel and Mooney's lbw dismissal to Shabnim Ismail in the final over proved costly for Scorchers.Peschel finished with figures of 3-28, while Ismail claimed 1-32.

Perth Scorchers' teenage sensation Chloe Ainsworth continued her impressive start to the WBBL, leading her team to a dominant 74-run victory over the previously undefeated Sydney Thunder.Ainsworth's impressive bowling figures of 2 for 15 at Drummoyne Oval on Tuesday night played a crucial role in restricting Thunder to a mere 97 runs in the 20th over, well short of Scorchers' formidable total of 171 for 7. The young seamer's early wickets set the tone for the match, as she conceded only 4 runs from her opening two overs.The result snapped Thunder's four-match winning streak and propelled Scorchers from fifth to second on the WBBL ladder. However, the match was not without its drama, as one of Drummoyne Oval's light towers malfunctioned early in Thunder's chase. Umpires halted play to consult with both teams, and Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield opted to continue batting despite the reduced visibility."I don't think I would like to be batting out there with Ainsworth out there firing, but that's the umpire's call," Thunder coach Lisa Keightley said after the match. "And they gave it to the players, so that is interesting."Despite the setback, Litchfield and Heather Knight briefly reignited Thunder's hopes with a 32-run third-wicket partnership. However, Litchfield's dismissal off Amy Edgar's bowling triggered a collapse, with Thunder losing wickets in quick succession.Earlier, Sophie Devine played a pivotal role in setting up Scorchers' victory with a well-paced 48 from 34 balls. The New Zealand star, who had endured two consecutive ducks prior to Tuesday's match, found her rhythm alongside India's Dayalan Hemalatha, who contributed a brisk 41 off 26 balls.Devine's innings included a six and four boundaries, providing the impetus for Scorchers' strong total. Mikayla Hinkley also played a valuable role, contributing 26 runs to the team's cause.While Devine's performance showcased her experience and class, Ainsworth's display highlighted her immense potential. The 19-year-old has emerged as a genuine threat to opposition batters, adding the likes of Chamari Athapaththu, Meg Lanning, and Alice Capsey to her growing list of victims this season.With nine wickets at an average of 12.88, Ainsworth has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. Her ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace makes her a formidable opponent, and her performances have undoubtedly caught the attention of Australian selectors.

Perth Scorchers emerged victorious in their WBBL clash against Brisbane Heat at the WACA, securing a 28-run win. Beth Mooney's crucial half-century and Alana King's exceptional five-wicket haul proved instrumental in the Scorchers' triumph.Mooney's innings was a tale of two halves. Initially struggling against Shikha Pandey's pace, she gradually found her rhythm and played a pivotal role in rescuing her team from a precarious position. Her 77 runs off 54 deliveries, including nine boundaries, propelled the Scorchers to a competitive total of 142 for 8.Brisbane Heat's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost both openers within the powerplay. Grace Harris's aggressive start was short-lived, and the Heat found themselves struggling at 38 for 3. Laura Harris's valiant 40 off 21 balls briefly threatened to turn the tide, but King's devastating spell in the final overs extinguished any hopes of a Heat victory.King's five-wicket haul, her best in the WBBL, was a testament to her exceptional skill and accuracy. She claimed the last four wickets in quick succession, including the crucial dismissal of Laura Harris, to seal the win for the Scorchers.The Scorchers' victory improved their record to 2-1, while the Heat dropped to 2-2. Mooney's late-innings heroics and King's match-winning performance were the key factors in the Scorchers' success.

Ni Made Putri Suwandewi, a promising Indonesian fast bowler, has joined the Perth Scorchers for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season as an Associate rookie. Her signing marks a significant milestone in the growing partnership between WA Cricket and Persatuan Cricket Indonesia, with a focus on developing women's cricket in the country.Suwandewi, 26, has been a standout performer for Indonesia since her international debut in 2019. With 49 wickets in 40 WT20Is at an exceptional average of 8.18 and an economy rate of 2.97, she has established herself as one of the most economical bowlers in women's T20I cricket.Her impressive bowling repertoire includes a menacing inswinger, a deceptive slower ball, and the ability to execute precise yorkers. Perth Scorchers coach Becky Grundy and high performance boss Kade Harvey were particularly impressed by her skills during their visit to Bali earlier this year."She bowls a natural inswinger, but has excellent variety with a good slower ball and can hit the yorkers," Harvey said. "She's quite short, but a really skilful bowler."Suwandewi's arrival in Perth has been met with enthusiasm, and she has already made a positive impression during training. "She's got the potential to play a role for us in the tournament," Harvey said. "We're going to be missing some international players at different stages. It was a good opportunity to utilise the rules in terms of the Associate rookie. But we wouldn't have done it if we didn't think she was capable of contributing."The signing of Suwandewi underscores the growing partnership between WA Cricket and Persatuan Cricket Indonesia. Grundy and Harvey's visit to Bali in April provided an opportunity to witness the progress of women's cricket in Indonesia and identify areas for collaboration."We were really impressed with the standard of cricket from the girls in Indonesia," Harvey said. "They play on astro turf, so we think a big part of their development is getting on good turf wickets."With over 200,000 women playing cricket across 21 provinces, Indonesia has a vast potential for growth in the sport. The partnership between WA Cricket and Persatuan Cricket Indonesia aims to provide support and guidance to help the Indonesian women's team achieve their goal of becoming a top 10 team in the world.

New Zealand's explosive opener Finn Allen has made a bold decision to prioritize franchise cricket over a national contract, signing a two-year deal with the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL).Allen's decision comes as a surprise, as he was initially included in New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) central contract list. However, the Scorchers' recent interest has swayed him towards a lucrative franchise opportunity.Allen's T20 credentials are impeccable. With a strike rate of 168.60, he ranks second only to Andre Russell among batters with at least 3000 runs. His international performances have also been impressive, including two centuries and a blistering 42 off 16 balls against Australia in the 2022 T20 World Cup.The Scorchers have been searching for a reliable opener since Cameron Bancroft's departure last season. Allen's signing fills that void, bringing a wealth of experience and firepower to the Perth-based franchise.Allen's decision to join the BBL means he will miss New Zealand's white-ball series against Sri Lanka in December. However, he will join fellow Kiwis Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat) and Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades) in the Australian domestic competition.The Scorchers' signing of Allen ahead of the draft raises questions about the future of Laurie Evans, who had a stellar season with the franchise last year. Evans' availability is limited due to his ongoing commitments in the UAE's ILT20, making it uncertain whether he will return to Perth.The BBL draft will be held on September 1, and the Scorchers have picks 7, 15, 18, and 31. With Allen already secured, they may focus on bolstering their bowling attack or adding depth to their batting lineup.

Sophie Devine, the dynamic New Zealand captain, has extended her stay with the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for another two seasons. This pre-draft signing ensures that Devine will continue to be a cornerstone of the Scorchers' lineup for the upcoming campaigns.Devine's retention by the Scorchers is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the team. In the previous season, she emerged as a pivotal figure, amassing 489 runs at an impressive average of 37.61. Her century against the Brisbane Heat showcased her batting prowess, while her 14 wickets highlighted her versatility as an all-rounder.Devine's impact extends beyond her on-field performances. She has forged strong connections with the players and staff at the Scorchers, creating a positive and supportive environment. "For me, coming back to Perth was a no brainer," Devine said. "I have built such a special connection with the players and staff over the past four seasons, and I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else."The Scorchers have yet to announce a new contract for Beth Mooney, the Australian opener who has been a key player for the team. However, it is widely expected that Mooney will remain with the club. The Scorchers have also bolstered their squad with the acquisition of Mikayla Hinkley from the Brisbane Heat during the off-season.Last season, the Scorchers fielded a formidable overseas contingent that included English trio Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Lauren Winfield-Hill. However, Sciver-Brunt has indicated that she will not be participating in this season's WBBL due to the demanding international schedule.The WBBL is set to commence just seven days after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, while England has a tour of South Africa that overlaps with the end of the tournament in late November.Devine's return to the Scorchers follows the recent signing of Chamari Athapaththu by the Sydney Thunder for a three-year deal. With only Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes yet to announce pre-draft signings, the WBBL is shaping up to be another highly competitive season.

Jhye Richardson, a promising Australian fast bowler, is poised to make his long-awaited return to domestic cricket in the upcoming Top End T20 tournament in Darwin. Richardson, who has been sidelined with injuries since January, has been included in the Perth Scorchers' squad for the tournament.Richardson's inclusion is a significant boost for the Scorchers, who are fielding a young squad featuring players on the fringes of the Big Bash League (BBL) and Western Australia sides. The 26-year-old has not played a competitive match in Australia since injuring himself during the BBL, but he made a brief appearance for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.Despite his recent injury setbacks, Richardson remains a highly regarded bowler. He was awarded a Cricket Australia contract in March and has been part of an Australia training camp in Brisbane this week. However, selectors have opted to take a long-term view with Richardson, hoping that he can overcome the injury issues that have hampered his international career."He's fit and firing now, and again looking for match opportunities," national selector George Bailey said last month. "I think he'll get opportunities again across the summer."Richardson will be joined in the Scorchers' squad by fellow quick Matt Kelly, who also missed the latter part of last season due to injury. Batter Sam Fanning has been named captain, while Baxter Holt, who recently moved to Western Australia from New South Wales, is also included."We also see this tournament as an opportunity for Jhye and Kells [Matt Kelly] to find touch in a competitive environment," stand-in coach Tim MacDonald said. "They didn't play a lot of cricket last year but they're a big part of what we do at the Scorchers and WA, so we're looking forward to seeing both of them back in action."The Top End competition will provide Richardson with a valuable opportunity to regain match fitness and prove his readiness for a return to international cricket. The tournament features a strong field of teams, including Northern Territory Strike, Pakistan A, ACT, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, and a Bangladesh High Performance side.