Prolific Perry stars as Sixers cruise to victory against Scorchers

At Lilac Hill, the Perth Scorchers hosted the Sydney Sixers, hoping to reverse the result of their previous encounter. Unfortunately for them, it was not to be, as the Sixers cruised to a 32-run win.

Sixers won the toss and elected to bat first. Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry put on a 68-run opening stand to frustrate the Scorchers bowlers, before Piepa Clearly broke through. Healy, looking to go big again, was caught by Hayley Jensen on the boundary. She departed for 44 off 30. Ashleigh Gardner then joined Perry at the crease. The two took some time to settle in, with the Scorchers displaying disciplined bowling, conceding no boundaries in three consecutive overs, to build pressure.

Gardner then broke the shackles by taking 20 runs off Cleary's third over. Shortly afterwards, Chloe Piparo dove forward to take Perry's catch in the outfield. However, she was unsure whether she had caught and the umpires ruled in Perry's favour, who continued with the onslaught of runs. Gardner fell in the last over, for 42 off 35. Perry then took 10 runs off the last two bowls to push the Sixers' total past 180, finishing her innings on 80* off 54. In the process, she became the first player to score 600+ runs in a WBBL season. The Sixers posted a daunting 183-2 on the board.

Cleary and Heather Graham took a wicket each, but on a good batting deck, the two proved to be expensive. Though she remained wicketless, Kate Cross bowled economically, giving just 26 runs off her allotted overs. She was the only bowler with an economy rate of under 9.00 an over.

Perry's good form continued in the second innings, when she dismissed Amy Jones cheaply, in the second over. Meg Lanning and Piparo then started to build a partnership, taking 12 runs off a Marizanne Kapp over, but in the next one, Piparo was run out. The following delivery saw Perry bowl Graham for a golden duck. At the end of the Powerplay, the Scorchers were on 36-3. After Lauren Ebsary was also run out, this time by Perry, Lanning combined with Mathilda Carmichael for a 50-run partnership. Carmichael showed her intent, hitting the ball hard and running well between the wickets to take the doubles. The two looked good, before Sarah Aley broke the partnership, with Carmichael skying the ball and, Perry taking the catch.

Wickets fell regularly, but while Lanning was at the crease, the Scorchers still had belief. However, with Nicole Bolton and Ellyse Villani both not playing, it was always going to be a challenging chase. Once Lauren Cheatle had Hayley Jensen caught by Hayley Silver-Holmes and the very next delivery, dismissed Lanning for 76 off 51, the match was essentially over. After Lannings' wicket fell on 140, the Scorchers were bowled out for 151.

The Sixers cruised to a 32-run victory, backing their impressive batting performance with a good bowling and fielding display. Perry, Cheatle and Aley took two wickets each, with Dane van Niekerk claiming the last one to bowl out her opposition.