Beth Mooney's unbeaten 99 helps Perth Scorchers beat table topper Sydney Sixers

Adelaide Strikers consolidated their place in the top four courtesy of a patient innings  from Madeline Penna. Penna's knock helped Strikers beat Melbourne Stars at the Lilac Hill Park in Perth on Saturday (November 5).. In the second game of the day, Beth Mooney powered Perth Scorchers home with a spectacular knock of 99 not out against table topper Sydney Sixers.



Stars, batting first, struggled to get going with the ball looping around. Stars had their first three batters back in the pavilion by the eighth over. Annabel Sutherland played the anchor role to lead the rebuilding phase with Kim Garth. However, with wickets falling at regular intervals, Stars could only manage a total of 112 from the stipulated 20 overs.



Strikers chase started with a stutter as they lost their top three batters within the first five overs. Bridget Patterson and Penna kept the run rate in check. Their partnership of 64 runs helped the Strikers stay in the chase. While Patterson perished in the 14th over, Penna got the team over the line with an unbeaten knock of 56 runs.



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In the second fixture, Mooney got the chase going with Chloe Piparo played second fiddle to her. The southpaw scored her half-century in 34 balls before turning the tide of the match in the Scorchers' favour with three consecutive fours and a six off Maitlan Brown. She hit back-to-back boundaries in the penultimate over to help Scorchers get over the line.



In the first innings, Ellyse Perry was the mainstay for Sixers. She top-scored with 69 not out. Brown and Erin Burns also contributed with some late hitting to help Sixers reach 155 for five at the end of their innings.



Brief Scores:



Melbourne Stars 112/8 in 20 overs (Annabel Sutherland 47; Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/20) lost to Adelaide Strikers 113/5 in 19. 1 overs (Madeline Penna 56*; Annabel Sutherland 2/19) by five wickets. POTM:Madeline Penna



Sydney Sixers 155/5 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 69*; Alana King 3/27) lost to Perth Scorchers 158/1 in 18.3 overs (Beth Mooney 99*, Chloe Piparo 41*) defeat  by nine wickets. POTM:Beth Mooney