WBBL: Perth and Australian star Beth Mooney sets new record as her team goes top of the table

There’s no better batter in T20 cricket right now than Beth Mooney, who set another scoring record in Adelaide.

Milestone after milestone was accrued by the ultra-consistent Beth Mooney in Adelaide on Wednesday as her Perth Scorchers cemented a WBBL finals place and put the Strikers on edge.

In her 100th match, the Scorchers opener anchored a 12-run win against the Strikers and became the first player to score 1000 runs for two teams in another player-of-the-match performance.

Only Strikers’ Katie Mack, who made 84 from 61 balls, her highest WBBL score, went better than Mooney, who made 78 from 53 at Karen Rolton Oval.

Mooney went past 1000 runs for two different WBBL clubs, the Scorchers and Brisbane Heat, becoming the first player to do so. It took her less than two seasons in orange.

Mooney is the second player to reach 100 WBBL matches following Heat captain Jess Jonassen, who reached 100 games on Sunday.

“It’s not something I thought I’d be doing, playing WBBL cricket, to play 100 straight is something really exciting and probably showing my age a little bit as well,“ Mooney said after the win.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to win a couple of titles in that time and jump ship to the Scorchers (who have made) feel really welcome here.

“Having a coach in my corner like Shelley Nitschke, I don’t worry about too much … she’s been a wonderful addition in my WBBL career.”

Perth not only booked a spot in the finals, with two games remaining, it went top of the table and reclaimed the Faith Thomas Trophy contested between the two sides.

Genuine question: can anyone stop Beth Mooney!

Another @WeberBBQAusNZ Player of the Match performance from the Scorchers opener! #WBBL07pic.twitter.com/r98hDZRMP2

— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 17, 2021

In another nailbiter, following the super over thriller earlier in the tournament, Adelaide finished 5-165 in reply to 3-177.

Mooney shared a sixth 100-run stand with captain Sophie Devine (61) in Scorchers’ colours, the third of the season, putting on 137

In 100 WBBL matches, 75 with Brisbane Heat including two titles, Mooney has amassed 3624 runs at an average nearing 50, underlining a consistency Nitschke praised during the week.

“She just does not get bored of batting does she Beth Mooney, absolutely loves every moment out in the middle,” former Australian player and respected commentator Mel Jones said during the coverage.

Mooney sits more than 300 runs clear atop the all-time run-scorers and has almost 497 this season, 113 more than Devine who is second.

Adelaide sits precariously in fourth following Wednesday’s loss, but finals hopes are far from dead and buried.

Their next fixture against Sydney Sixers is crucial, with a win guaranteeing finals for Adelaide.

REVISED START TO PAY RESPECTS

Wednesday’s start was brought forward to 10am local time to allow players and staff of both teams to attend the memorial of SACA chief executive, Keith Bradshaw, who lost his long battle with cancer last week.

“He was a magnificent player but also administrator within the game. Played such a big role in the Adelaide Oval pink ball Test, first ever non-Englishman to be CEO of the MCC as well,” Jones said before play.

“He just did a power of work for cricket right across the world and he’ll be sadly missed.”

Katie Mack made 84. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

FIXTURE BEGINS FIRST NATIONS ROUND

The fifth Faith Thomas Trophy match between the Strikers and Scorchers began the inaugural league-wide First Nations Round acknowledging and celebrating Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The round is set to showcase culture through Barefoot Circles, Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies across a series of matches concluding on Sunday.

The men’s Big Bash will also integrate a First Nations Round this summer set to take place in early January.

Originally published as WBBL: Perth and Australian star Beth Mooney sets new record as her team goes top of the table