Scorchers loss puts WBBL finals hopes on the rocks
Melbourne Stars held on for victory in Moe to leave the defending champions needing favours
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Nov-2022
Alice Capsey took three wickets as Stars claimed victory • Getty Images
Melbourne Stars 8 for 179 (Winfield-Hill 36, Edgar 3-27) beat Perth Scorchers 7 for 173 (Capsey 3-37) by six runs
Perth Scorchers' WBBL finals hopes are on the rocks after a six-run loss to Melbourne Stars.
Alana King threatened to win the game in dramatic late style with 26 off nine balls but fell with seven deliveries remaining. A no-ball at the start of the final over from Sasha Moloney added to the tension, however the Stars held on.
Scorchers remain in fifth position on 13 competition points, two points outside the top four and their loss guarantees second-placed Brisbane Heat of a finals berth.
Sydney Sixers are on top of the ladder with 21 points and will host the WBBL decider on November 26.
The Heat are second on 16, followed by Hurricanes and Strikers on 15. Hurricanes have a net run rate of 0.54 while the Strikers are just behind on 0.31.
The result does not end Scorchers' chances of playing finals but they must now beat \Melbourne Renegades in Moe on Sunday and hope either Hurricanes lose to the Sixers or Strikers get beaten by Sydney Thunder. Heat will secure second position if they beat Stars in Moe.
Stars were 0for 44 after four overs against Scorchers, the most runs scored in the powerplay this WBBL season.
Openers Lauren Winfield-Hill (36 off 25 balls) and Sophie Reid (24 off 13) ignited the start of the innings before a cameo at the end by Sasha Moloney (28* off 16).
Scorchers took 3 for 14 in the power surge, the best in the WBBL this season, to limit the damage to some extent with Amy Edgar in form.
In reply Scorchers lost the competition's leading run-scorer Beth Mooney early. Rain started falling in the run chase with both teams keeping an eye on the DLS required rate.
King and Marizanne Kapp (23 off 12) threatened to win it for the Scorchers but they fell just short. The 58 runs conceded by Annabel Sutherlands was the most by a Stars bowler in the WBBL.