Perth Scorchers women 4 for 85 (Bolton 28*, Graham 27*, Schutt 2-16) beat Adelaide Strikers women 9 for 82 (McGrath 27, Brunt 2-14, Graham 2-12)
Scorecard
Heather Graham followed her two wickets up with a brisk unbeaten 27 to take Scorchers to victory © Getty Images
Despite a spirited and resourceful performance with the ball, Adelaide Strikers were unable to overcome a disastrous batting performance – which, having elected to bat first, saw their 20 overs yield just 82 for nine – and lost by six wickets to Perth Scorchers, who recorded their second win in three days.
The result takes them second in a congested WBBL table. They are level with the Strikers and Melbourne Stars on eight points, although they have played a game fewer (six) than the former.
Scorchers’ victory – in what was generally a low-quality contest – was built on the excellent bowling of Katherine Brunt, and while they suffered a poor start to their own innings, the calm head of Nicole Bolton and big hitting of Heather Graham – who completed the win with the match’s first six, a club to cow – saw them over the line.
Scorching start
Led by the energetic and estimable Katherine Brunt, the Scorchers’ win was built on an outstanding start. Brunt opened the bowling and was joined by Emma King with her offbreaks. King began with a wicket maiden (and finished her four overs with 15 dot balls), which saw Tammy Beaumont dropped, then caught.
At the other end, Brunt was in fine fettle. Building pressure with sharp inswingers, she pulled off a superb direct hit to run out Alex Price, before pinning Sophie Devine plumb in front. The parsimonious Anya Shrubsole – with her clever changes of pace – got in on the act, with her first two overs costing just two each, and Strikers ended the powerplay three down for 15; from there, it was always a long way back.
Katherine Brunt made early inroads for the Scorchers © Getty Images
Scrambled Strikers
A long way back, sure. But Strikers should have got plenty more than 82 for nine, even after that poor powerplay. They were the architects of their downfall with three more run-outs after Price, although Tahlia McGrath – who had gamely led a mini-fightback – was unlucky to be run out backing up, when King got a finger on Shelley Nitschke’s straight drive. The other two run-outs were brainless and came in consecutive balls towards the end of the innings.
Remarkably, Scorchers dropped catches and missed run-outs and a stumping, yet still kept Strikers to just 83. Given their reliance on Devine, who has made 147 more runs than any the second-highest Striker this season, an innings like this had been coming. The imminent return of the solidity and maturity of Charlotte Edwards cannot come soon enough.
Schutt out
The performance of Megan Schutt and her opening partner Devine gave the Strikers brief hope of an unlikely win. Schutt, hammering an awkward length, had Suzie Bates caught behind down the legside in the first over, then Chloe Piparo taken in the gully in her second, while between those Devine pinned Elyse Villani lbw; Scorchers were 3-7, only one run better off than the Scorchers had been after the same number of wickets. Could they?
Bolton wanders home
Strikers’ poor score meant Scorchers really had nothing to worry about. Nicole Bolton set about rebuilding with former Striker Lauren Ebsary, picking up plenty of sharp singles in a stand of 34. But even when Ebsary was bowled by Sarah Coyte just before the halfway stage to leave Scorchers 4 for 41, they were cruising. Bolton was joined by Graham, who looked intent on being there at the end, and did not muck about, swinging for the rafters to seal the win. 25 balls – and the big hitting Brunt – went unused.
Will Macpherson writes on cricket for the Guardian, ESPNcricinfo and All Out Cricket. @willis_macp
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo