Sophie Devine Leads Perth Scorchers To Their Maiden WBBL Title As They Defeat Adelaide Strikers By 12 Runs

Cricket Image for Sophie Devine Leads Perth Scorchers To Their Maiden WBBL Title As They Defeat Adel (Image Source: Twitter)

In the final of the Women Big Bash League 2021, Perth Scorchers were able to defeat Adelaide Strikers by 12 runs and lift their maiden Big Bash League title. Adelaide Strikers, while chasing a target of 147, lost their opener, Katie Mack, in the fifth over at a score of 12. Scorchers skipper Devine provided this breakthrough. 

Strikers didn't get a chance to recover from this setback as they lost their star batter and opener Dane van Niekerk in the 6th over. Then skipper Tahlia McGrath (36(29)) and Laura Wolvaardt (25(28)) built a partnership of 65 runs in 50 balls to stand a chance to win the finals. 

But then, Strikers lost 3 crucial wickets in 4 overs and eventually fell short of the target by 12 runs. For Scorchers, Taneale Peschel & Heather Graham picked up 2 wickets each while top scorers from the first innings - Sophie Devine and Marizanne Kapp picked up 1 scalp each. 

Congrats @ScorchersBBL !
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.#Cricket #WBBL #BigBash #Perthscorchers pic.twitter.com/sYHZRuHk3k

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) November 27, 2021

In the first innings, Perth Scorchers were able to post 146/6 in 20 overs. For Scorchers, openers Sophie Devine & Beth Mooney provided a good start. The opening partnership lasted for 7.5 overs when Beth Mooney (19) fell to young Australian pacer Tahlia McGrath at a team total of 52 runs. Skipper Beth Mooney remained the top scorer for the team with 35 runs in 33 balls, powered by 6 boundaries. 

Marizanne Kapp, batting at #5 was the second-highest scorer with 31 runs off 23 balls including 4 boundaries. Kapp stitched a partnership of 41 runs in 32 balls with Heather Graham (23(20)) to take the total to a respectable one. 

For Adelaide Strikers - Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Amanda Wellington & captain Tahlia McGrath - all picked up 1 wicket each. Strikers now need 147 runs in 20 overs to life the WBBL title for 2021. 

Earlier, Adelaide Strikers captain Talia McGrath won the toss & opted to bowl first against Perth Scorchers in the Women Big Bash League 2021 final. This match was played at Perth Stadium, Perth.

Brief Scorecard: 

Perth Scorchers - 146/5 in 20 overs.

Adelaide Strikers - 134/6 in 20 overs.