WBBL: A Sophie Devine century and another Meg Lanning masterclass headline a big Sunday in WBBL06
Sophie Devine and Meg Lanning have produced two of the best innings in tournament history on a huge Sunday for the WBBL. See all the scores and highlights.
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Call it “Devine” intervention - or maybe don’t, because she’s heard that one before.
But it was a magical Sophie Devine century - the first of WBBL/06 - that secured the Perth Scorchers a 36-run win over the Sydney Sixers on Sunday afternoon.
The competition’s two best opening partnerships went head to head at Hurstville - Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, and Devine and Beth Mooney.
This time, it was the Scorchers duo who fired.
Mooney and Devine withstood the Sixers stellar bowling front to build a 151-run partnership and laid the foundation for Perth’s 4/183 total.
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After a shaky start to the season, Devine credited Mooney for helping her find form.
“It’s almost like we’ve batted for years together, funny to think that it’s only been a couple of games, she’s so well versed and knowledgeable about the game,” Devine said.
“You always know that you’re only one innings away from getting back into form, whatever “form” actually is, because T20 cricket is such a fickle game,”
“For me it was sticking to processes, staying positive and having Moons down the other end was great.”
As the Sixers chased, it was Marizanne Kapp and Erin Burns who stepped up.
Kapp hit a half-century and finished on 68* off 53.
The South African received great support from Burns, who was dismissed for 34 off 24.
But the damage was done and the Sixers finished on 147, in their first loss of the season.
Sophie Devine teeing off at Hurstville Oval! #WBBL06 pic.twitter.com/fpEyBaFafK
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2020
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Devine posted one of the best centuries in WBBL history. The captain’s knock - that included five 4s and seven 6s - was massive for the Scorchers, who desperately needed a win after consecutive losses to the Stars and Thunder. It will also boost Devine, who has been fighting for better form since she joined the Scorchers.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Scorchers opening batters Devine and Beth Mooney built a formidable partnership, combining for 151 runs. Mooney fired 60 off 44, including seven fours and one six, and was only dismissed in the 16th over. Devine was eventually run-out for 103 off 68 with a strike-rate of 151.74. Sixers Kapp should also put on a show, hitting five fours and two sixes.
HUNDRED! 🙌😠Raise your bat Sophie Devine for one of the finest knocks we've seen in the WBBL. @ScorchersBBL | #WBBL06 pic.twitter.com/BNeAX0micz
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 8, 2020
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Scorchers bowlers stopped any chance of a Sixers comeback. Taneale Peschel took the big wickets of Perry and Ash Gardner, finishing with 2-28 from four overs. Heather Graham followed suit, clocking 2-30 from four overs. Sixer Dane Van Niekerk should also be praised for breaking up the deadly Devine-Mooney partnership. The South African finished up with figures of 2-33 from 4 overs.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
Devine was relieved to produce a strong knock for her new club.
“There’s a bit of expectation from myself more than anyone else, I want to do a really good job for the Scorchers. Obviously a fair bit has been said about my move here and I’m honoured to play for this club and I want to contribute in any way. So it’s nice to finally put some runs on the board for the orange.”
Lanning masterclass one for the record books
- Liz Walsh
All hail Meg Lanning.
The Melbourne Stars captain has bowlers everywhere shaking in their sneakers and she duly put on a batting masterclass in her side’s comprehensive 23-run win over Brisbane Heat at North Sydney Oval.
Lanning had a field day from the first ball she faced, hitting back-to-back boundaries off the bowling of Nicola Hancock.
She didn’t slow from there and 21 balls later was raising her bat to acknowledge her third consecutive half-century in WBBL06.
And it was a blinder, the six fours and three sixes making it the equal third-fastest half-century in WBBL history (23 balls).
In desperate need of a momentum-shifter, Heat captain Jess Jonassen brought Kiwi international Amelia Kerr into the attack and her hard-to-pick wrong-un had immediate impact, ending Lanning’s spectacular innings, bowling her on 54 (25). Lanning’s knock formed the backbone of the Stars’ 9-177.
Needing around nine an over it was always a tough ask for the Heat, but Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne gave it their best shot with a 39-run opening partnership before Redmayne was caught behind for 19 (16 balls).
From there, wickets tumbled, the Heat losing 4-10 in the next 13 balls but managed 8-154 from their 20 overs. Lanning’s two catches in the field further helped her win Player of the Match accolade.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
In the fifth over of the Heat’s run chase, Elyse Villani was at mid-on when big-hitting opener Harris, sitting on 16*, popped the ball up off Annabel Sutherland’s bowling. The cry of “catch it” sang out, and Villani got her hands up nicely, cupped above her head, but the ball spilled and she dropped the catch. Harris went on her merry way to the day’s top score, an unbeaten 81* (52) – hitting more than half of the Heat’s total score.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Stars’ leggie Alana King came into the attack for the seventh over with the Heat at 1-45. With her third ball, she forced a quick single, which saw Jonassen runout for 1, and then she had Maddy Green caught behind for a duck. By over’s end, the Heat were 3-46 and in all sorts of strife.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Lanning’s magnificent knock was backed up by a solid lineup around her, and it looked fun for the Stars, who hit a combined 19 fours and five sixes. Opener Elyse Villani continued Lanning’s solid start (25 runs from 22 balls), while King came in for the death overs and hit 17 from eight balls.
Meg Lanning already has her half century...what the heck!?
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 8, 2020
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
Meg Lanning on her knock: “It was a bit of fun out there, it was sliding onto the bat with the pace bowlers so I felt in a bit of a groove so I thought I’d try and get as many as I could. (Coach Trent Woodhill is challenging me on) trying to hit the ball hard, and it’s not really about big feet movement or long swings, it’s just sort of short, sharp movements and using the power that I’ve got, so it was nice to play with a bit of freedom.”
Feast your eyes on this.
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 8, 2020
Meg Lanning's 23-ball half-century 😠#WBBL06 pic.twitter.com/qPgsFJtxmF
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Have Strikers found their new Devine?
- Liz Walsh
Twenty20 cricket is all about moments and there were two key ones that handed Adelaide Strikers a thrilling six-run win over Melbourne Renegades at North Sydney Oval.
The first came midway through the Strikers’ innings: slumped with their top four batters back in the shed, and a dismal 50 runs to their tally, West Indian big-hitter Stafanie Taylor found herself running short during a quick single, but ‘Gades bowler Rosemary Mair fumbled the ball as it came in from the field and Taylor was safe.
She went on to make 60 from 48 balls and be Player of the Match.
In contrast, in the first over of the Renegades’ innings, Striker Sarah Coyte dismissed Sophie Molineux (4 runs) with an impressive - and difficult - direct hit at the stumps.
Those clutch moments were vital.
The Strikers won the toss and elected to bat, but slumped to 4-25 after seven overs, with the top four batters managing only 17 runs between them.
Then Taylor and legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington – who’s pushing a case to officially be called an allrounder – piled on a 43-run partnership, forming the backbone of their final tally of 9-127.
It didn’t look a big score to defend, but with three wickets in the first three overs – including teenager Darcie Brown bowling ‘Gades captain Amy Satterthwaite (1 run off 11 balls) – the Strikers were looking to cruise to an easy victory, until Carly Leeson hit 31 off 17 in the death overs.
Despite the late scare, it was too little too late and Adelaide took home back-to-back wins.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
‘Gades allrounder Georgia “Wolfy” Wareham was cool and calm on 34, when Striker Bridget Patterson was mic’d up and talking live to the TV commentary team.
Wellington came into the attack for the 14th over, and Patterson told the commentators: “I wouldn’t mind Wolfy getting out here, sky-ing one”. Wareham then hit two boundaries from four balls. What happened next? Wareham sky-ed her shot … and Patterson took a diving catch along the boundary. She told the commentators: “Thank you very much, I called it and there you go! I had it, I told you guys about it and I had it!”
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
In the third and fourth overs of the Strikers’ batting innings, the ‘Gades claimed three wickets in only five balls, which set the tone for Adelaide’s struggles with the bat. First, Molineux pinned Tahlia McGrath (12, 10 balls) on the crease to trap her leg before, then two balls later Rosemary Mair had Katie Mack caught at mid-on (2, 8). Another two balls later, Mair had Bridget Patterson caught behind for a duck. The Strikers had fallen to 3/15.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Taylor was the standout batter all day, not only top scoring with 60 (48), but resurrecting the Strikers’ innings with seven fours and one whopping six. Having played only two games for the Strikers last season, Taylor is now becoming an important piece of the Strikers’ puzzle, as they look to replace their lost superstar Sophie Devine (who’s gone to Perth). It was her seventh WBBL half-century.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
Strikers coach Luke Williams on Taylor’s half-century: “It was a great innings, wasn’t it? She showed her experience and to be able to help us scramble to a competitive score with 80 off the back 10, it was a fantastic innings.”
DARLINGTON DELIVERS AT DEATH IN THUNDER THRILLER
– Jocelyn Airth
Hannah Darlington snatched a thrilling one-run victory for Sydney Thunder over the Hobart Hurricanes at Hurstville on Sunday.
The Hurricanes were chasing 11 runs in the final over, when Thunder captain Rachael Haynes sent bowler Darlington into battle.
The 18-year-old showed remarkable composure to dismiss Erica Kershaw and prevent Hobart from taking the win.
“She’s a really mature kid and she knows the game really well, it was the type of wicket where pace off is really effective … (it was) great for Hannah to hold her nerve at the end,” Sydney Thunder’s Heather Knight said.
Hurricanes bowlers Hayley Matthews (2-23), Nicola Carey (1-25) and Amy Smith (2-15) had contained the Thunder to 7/129.
Leading their run chase was Rachel Priest, the formidable New Zealand international who seemed determined for revenge against her former club.
But Thunder bowlers Darlington (2-29), Knight (2-12) and Sam Bates (1-20) fought back just in time to hold Hobart to 7/128.
“It showed a bit of our character, we were a bit flat in the field and we managed to pick up a wicket and throw all our eggs at the other end.
“The bowling group has been outstanding, it’s a real strength of ours.”
MOMENT OF THE DAY
It boiled down to the very last ball. Darlington bowled to Priest – who had hit 13 boundaries already – for the win and the youngster rose to the occasion. She executed the perfect yorker under pressure to prevent Hobart from running away with it.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Priest absolutely terrorised the Thunder – particularly bowler Sammy-Jo Johnson – from the moment she took the crease. The Kiwi whacked three boundaries off four balls in the first over, leaving Johnson completely bamboozled. Priest notched nine 4s and four 6s and she finished on 83 (from 64) not out. Knight produced another strong knock for the Thunder, finishing up on 61 (49) not out.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Thunder’s fast bowler Shabnim Ismail also formidable, taking the wickets of both Naomi Stalenberg and Hayley Matthews. The South African finished on 2-13 from four overs. Special mention also goes to 15-year-old Amy Smith (2-15), who showed class beyond her years. The youngster dismissed Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes and set up Rachel Priest to stump fellow teen star Phoebe Litchfield.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Knight believes the youthful Thunder side has surprised the experts so far in WBBL06. “I think we have, we’ve got some good experience in there as well, the team has recruited really well, I think Lauren Smith and Sammy-Jo have really added in particularly, they’re really competitive and desperate to do well and you need that energy in the team. We’re gelling nicely” Knight said.
LANNING ATTAINS UNIQUE RECORD
– Emma Greenwood
Australian captain Meg Lanning kept the Melbourne Stars on track for a maiden WBBL finals appearance with a history-making half-century against her former side the Perth Scorchers.
Lanning, who finished on 51 not out (38 balls), became the first player to score a half-century against every WBBL side when she hit the winning runs to hand the Stars an eight-wicket victory against the Scorchers on Saturday night.
The Stars restricted the Scorchers to 118 from their 20 overs in the final game of a triple-header at North Sydney Oval, claiming star openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney early, before piling pressure on their top order and finishing with three consecutive run outs.
Showers swept the ground during both innings but the players stayed on field, a bonus in a season that has been heavily affected by the weather.
Needing early wickets, the Scorchers claimed the scalp of Elyse Villani in the third over and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Mignon du Preez was out for 20.
But Lanning and player of the match Natalie Sciver (33 off 26 and two wickets) steered the Stars home with almost five overs to spare.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney have made some magnificent opening stands for the Scorchers but when Mooney (19 off 20) ballooned a ball back to Natalie Sciver in the sixth over, not long after Devine (11 off 10) was run out following a misunderstanding between the two, the Stars had a key breakthrough and made the most of their opportunities.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Lanning moved to fourth on the WBBL’s all-time run-scoring list with her 51 not out and notched the unique feat of scoring a half-century against every team in the competition in her first outing against her old side.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Opening bowler Nat Sciver took the important wicket of Beth Mooney (19 off 20) just as the Aussie stalwart was hitting her straps but it was the scalp of Megan Banting (18 off 16) that was just as important as the Scorchers threatened to fight back.
THE QUOTE
Natalie Sciver on the Stars’ chance of making the finals for the first time
“Everyone’s performances are really building into it. When we get our chance to bat first we can show them what we’ve got then but as a team we’re building right into it.”
Birthday girl holds nerve to topple Thunder
– Emma Greenwood
Birthday girl Rosemary Mair held her nerve to withstand a final-over onslaught from Lauren Smith and hand the Melbourne Renegades their first win of the WBBL season with a thrilling two-run win over competition heavyweights the Sydney Thunder at Hurstville Oval in Sydney.
After taking a pair of pivotal wickets in her opening spell, Kiwi international Mair, who turned 22 on Saturday, took the ball for the final over with the Thunder needing 19 to win.
The improbable equation suddenly became achievable when Lauren Smith – who was dropped off the final ball of the 19th over – hit three consecutive boundaries to start the final over, leaving her side to chase just seven from the final three balls of the match.
But Mair responded with a pair of yorkers that Smith and Hannah Darlington could only get away for singles, with Smith left needing five from the final ball for victory.
The Thunder headed into the match as competition leaders and looked set to extend the Renegades’ pain after restricting the Melbourne side to 110 from their 20 overs but they were poor in response, collapsing to 4-34 and looking in deep trouble after captain Rachael Haynes was run out for just three.
Renegades all-rounder Sophie Molineux said the win was a relief after a “tricky start to the season”.
“The first couple of weeks we were at the wrong end of it all and to be able to bounce back like that today – tight there at the end – but it was a very special win for the Renegades,” Molineux said.
“We knew we were a few under par but that spurred us on to be able to come out and I was really proud of the girls, it was like we were back to the old Renegades days, where we fought and scrapped our way and to be able to set it up, Rosemary was amazing in the first four overs there, she snagged a couple of wickets which set up a bit of momentum our way.”
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
When Georgia Wareham made a one-handed pick-up and inch-perfect return to keeper Josie Dooley on a ball worked to square leg, Aussie vice-captain Rachael Haynes was caught short of her crease when looking for a second run and the Thunder’s innings was in tatters at 4-34.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Sophie Molineux’s 34 off 42 balls was far from the most swashbuckling effort of the Australian representative’s career but after Lizelle Lee’s early exit, her patient innings, which included three safe fours, was the glue that allowed the Renegades to built a defendable total that eventually led to their first win of the season.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Sammy-Jo Johnson took 4-26 from her four overs, netting the key wicket of South African opener Lizelle Lee before being on a hat trick in the 15th over after bowling Josie Dooley and Erin Fazackerley with consecutive balls.
THE QUOTE
Molineux paid tribute to the Renegades’ injured bowlers Kiwi international Lea Tahuhu and young gun Maitlan Brown.
“It was a pretty special moment coming off the ground and seeing Lea Tahuhu and Maitlan Brown with a big smile on their face and how happy they are for the group.
“Hopefully we can carry that momentum and winning feeling into the next couple of weeks because (the season) is so condensed now.”
Stunning grab helps Strikers subdue Heat
– Carly Adno
A wonderful half-century from Katie Mack and a scarcely believable moment in the field saw the Adelaide Strikers beat the Heat by 18 runs in a thriller at North Sydney Oval.
With both teams under pressure heading into the match, it was two-time defending champions Brisbane who fell to their third consecutive defeat.
After Mack led the Strikers to 8-153, her 50 coming off just 37 balls, the Heat came out blazing in reply.
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Maddy Green and Georgia Redmayne put on an amazing 79-run partnership for the opening wicket, before Green was run out for 25. Redmayne went on to bring up her half-century off 37 balls and ended with her highest WBBL score of 65.
But it wasn’t enough to spare the Heat from defeat.
Her wicket in the 15th over set up a thrilling end to the match, and the end of the match also produced one of the moments of the tournament.
Brisbane’s chase was already faltering when Amelia Kerr mistimed a full toss from Amanda-Jade Wellington. The ball flew to Madeline Penna, who parried it high in the air only for Tahlia McGrath to take a sensational, diving catch off the rebound.
It was a momentum-shifting moment and one Brisbane couldn’t recover from as they fell 18 runs short.
Earlier, it was Mack’s 75-run partnership with South Africa star Laura Wolvaardt that set the Strikers up for a big score after being sent into bat. With Mack set, Wolvaarrdt played the supporting role by expertly rotating the strike, then watching from the other end as Mack went after Delissa Kimmince in the seventh over, hitting her for four consecutive boundaries and taking 18 runs from it.
But once Mack departed Wolvaardt took initiative, displaying all the skills this tournament has already been fortunate to see from her.
Her straight drive for six in the 11th over was a thing of beauty. Wolvaardt eventually fell for 46, leaving the rest of the Strikers’ batting line-up to add the finishing touches to a solid start.
But they stuttered, with Jess Jonassen taking two wickets for one run in the penultimate over, and it was only thanks to a Sarah Hoyte’s two sixes at the very end of the innings that the Strikers managed to give their bowlers enough to defend.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
An extraordinary team catch by the Adelaide Strikers will be one of the moments of this season’s WBBL. Brisbane’s Amelia Kerr mistimed a full toss from Amanda-Jade Wellington and the ball flew to Madeline Penna, who parried it high in the air only for Tahlia McGrath to take a sensational, diving catch off the rebound.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Georgia Redmayne came out all guns blazing to begin Brisbane’s chase. She blazed her way to 50 off just 37 balls in an opening stand of 79-runs with Maddy Green, before she departed for her highest-ever WBBL score of 65.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Not for the first time this tournament Jess Jonassen made a potentially match-turning contribution with the ball. The Heat skipper conceded just one run in the penultimate over and took the wickets of Stafanie Taylor and Madeline Penna, with Amanda-Jade Wellington also run out in the same over.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
“You will not see a better catch out of nowhere.” Mel Jones on Tahlia McGrath’s catch to dismiss Amelia Kerr.
Gardner proves the difference in Sixers win
– Carly Adno
Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball as the Sydney Sixers edged the Hobart Hurricanes at North Sydney Oval.
In the end it was closer than they would have liked, but the team in magenta eventually won by nine runs, defending 150, to cement their spot at the top of the WBBL ladder.
Gardner hit her eighth WBBL half-century to set the Sixers up for a big score and she backed it up with bowling figures of 2-20.
Her 53 off just 35 balls included four boundaries and three sixes as she, along with Ellyse Perry (35), put the Sixers in control after they opted to bat first.
Gardner was at her best in the 13th over, hitting Belinda Vakarewa for consecutive sixes as she took 16 runs from the over.
But her innings came to an end in the 16th over thanks to teenager Amy Smith. Attempting the slog, Gardner missed a yorker and was bowled.
And it got better for 15-year-old Smith, who bowled Erin Burns (7) three balls later. She ended her three overs with hugely impressive figures of 2-10.
The Sixers had been on track for a big score, but when South African pair Dane van Niekerk (13) and Marizanne Kapp (9) fell to consecutive deliveries by Hayley Matthews in the 20th over it completed a mini collapse from them.
In the end their 6-149 was a par score, but one the Hurricanes would have been pleased to restrict them to.
Naomi Stalenberg got the Hurricanes off to a good start in reply, hitting four boundaries for her 22-runs.
But their run chase was struck two massive blows, first when Hayley Matthews (29) was well caught on the boundary by Gardner, and then when Nicola Carey (38) was caught by Kapp off the bowling of Van Niekerk.
Still, the Hurricanes made a game of it before finishing just nine runs short.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Any real hope of an upset for the Hurricanes ended in the 17th over thanks to the family pairing of Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk. Nicola Carey was in ominous form, before she mistimed a length ball from Van Niekerk and was well caught on the boundary by Kapp for 38.
KNOCK OF THE MATCH
Ashleigh Gardner was on song as she hit 53 off just 35 balls, her eighth WBBL half-century. She was at her brutal best in the 13th over when she hit Belinda Vakarewa for consecutive sixes, the first over deep mid wicket and the second over long on.
BOWLING SPELL OF THE MATCH
Teenager Amy Smith showed why she is Australia’s most exciting young prospect in the 16th over. The 15-year-old leg-spinner bowled Ashleigh Gardner and Erin Burns and conceded just two runs from the over. She ended her three overs with hugely impressive figures of 2-10.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
“She’s remarkably composed for 15-year-old and she’s a real student of the game.” Hurricanes captain Corinne Hall on Amy Smith.
Originally published as WBBL: A Sophie Devine century and another Meg Lanning masterclass headline a big Sunday in WBBL06