Alana King, Mooney lead Perth Scorchers to top of the table

Perth Scorchers clinched a 17-run victory over Sydney Thunder, set up by skipper Beth Mooney's unbeaten 80 and a four-fer from Alana King. Asked to bat first by Thunder, Scorchers posted an imposing total of 183/3, wherein Mooney carried her bat. Thunder saw contributions right through the order after an early setback, but fell 17 short as King wrapped up the tail cheaply.

Mooney and Sophie Devine put together an 85-run stand for the second wicket after Katie Mack left for 10, stumped by Jemma Barsby. Three fours and a six accounted for 42 of Devine's 39 hits before he was hurt to retire in the 17th over. Freya Kemp capitalized immediately, smashing a rapid 30 off just 10 balls featuring two fours and three sixes, to push the total past 170.

When Chloe Ainsworth bowled Georgia Voll for a golden duck off the very first ball of the chase, Thunder suffered an immediate setback. Phoebe Litchfield fought back vigorously, scoring 34 runs off 19 deliveries, including five fours and a maximum. Anika Learoyd contributed 22 off 16 balls before being trapped leg-before by Devine.

Thunder were left stuttering at 89 for 4 after Litchfield was defeated by Ainsworth and Nadine de Klerk was taken out by Fatima Sana for two. Before Mooney stumped Heather Knight off Devine's bowling, she dropped the anchor and hit 27 off 26 deliveries. After that, Tahlia Wilson contributed 25 points from 19 shots, while Laura Harris scored 29 points with three fours and two sixes on just 12 shots.

However, in the final moments, King decisively shifted the game in favor of the Scorchers. King dismantled Thunder’s lower order by cleaning up Harris, Hannah Darlington (5), and Samantha Bates (0), alongside having Jemma Barsby (9) caught, finishing with magnificent figures of 4 for 35 in four overs to restrict them well short.