Perth Scorchers stormed past Melbourne Stars by 28 runs at the WACA to set up a high-stakes Challenger final against Sydney Sixers, with the winner to face Hobart Hurricanes in Saturday’s title decider.
Openers Katie Mack (52) and Beth Mooney (45) laid the platform with a 107-run partnership, the highest of the season for Scorchers, before wickets in quick succession brought Stars back into the contest. Freya Kemp’s late 35 off 19 balls provided a final flourish, helping Scorchers post 173 for 5.
Chasing 174, the Stars stumbled early with Rhys McKenna running out an opener and tight bowling from Scorchers’ spinners Amy Edgar and Ruby Strange restricting the middle order. Meg Lanning (49) and Amy Jones (43) combined for an 87-run stand, keeping hope alive until the pressure told.
Scorchers’ allround performance shone through in the final overs, as Alana King (2-25), Lilly Mills (2-19), and Sophie Devine (2-20) shared the wickets to collapse the Stars for 145 for 9, ending their campaign with four straight defeats.
With momentum firmly on their side, Perth Scorchers now head to Sydney to face the Sixers, aiming to secure a spot in the WBBL final against the Hurricanes.
