Scorchers Have Their Day In The Sun And Keep Out The Heat

The Perth Scorchers might have missed Suzie Bates on any other day when you consider that she was scoring a century for her new side. In the end, they won comfortably in thanks to their new signing Natalie Sciver. The England all-rounder put in a player of the match performance; she was helped to settle in with Katherine Brunt sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 84, as the Scorchers won by 18 runs.

Elyse Villani who replaced Bates as captain won the toss and with the evidence of yesterdays high scoring games it was the logical choice. That was until the scorchers found themselves 3 for 27. Villani for a short-lived 16; Hawkeye suggested that the ball might have missed leg stump, but instead, the umpire raised his finger.

Nicole Bolton was also unlucky when she was run out for a duck. Laura Harris, attempting to hold on to a one-handed catch had enough awareness to throw the stumps down at the non-striker’s end. When Jess Jonassen a vastly experienced bowler at just 25 bowled Heather Graham the Scorchers were in trouble.

It was up to the England internationals Sciver and Brunt to take up the charge. There were some early scares, but it was not long before the boundaries started to flow. It was Holly Ferling who paid the price as she was hit out of the attack when both the England internationals hit sixes in an over that went to 17.

Sciver and brunt were having fun, and could even laugh off a shot from Sciver that seemed destined to hit Brunt in the face. When Sammy-Jo Johnson dropped Sciver on 32, you could tell it would not be the Brisbane Heat’s day.

Before the record-breaking day yesterday Sciver’s 50 from 28 balls would have looked rapid. When brunt and Sciver were dismissed it could have seen the Scorchers run rate drop. It might have done had Lauren Ebsary hit a late 37 not out from 20 balls, guided her side to 6 for 188.

Beth Mooney had got the better of Brunt during the Women’s Ashes series last month, but it was to be the England bowlers chance of revenge. Mooney had started well and was 0n 23 from 10 balls when Brunt encouraged a missed time shot and it was Sciver who took the catch.

Laura Wolvaardt the South Africa batter was run out for a duck having not faced a ball, all eyes turned to Deandra Dottin the only player to score two T20 international hundreds looked to take the attack from the start but was bowled for 10.

At 4 for 61 the Heat found themselves in a similar position to their opponents. The Scorchers were more ruthless though and the wickets continued to tumble. Delissa Kimmince was the last line of resistance and her 87 not out from 54 balls nearly dragged the Heat back into the game. It proved not to be and the Scorchers at least for today ask ‘who is Suzie Bates?’

 

Flash scores:

Perth Scorchers 188/6 (N Sciver 84, S Johnson 2/24) beat Brisbane Heat 170/9 (D Kimmince 87*, K Brunt 3/23) by 18 runs.