Stars shine as they beat battling Scorchers

WBBL|04 is proving to be a close one among a group of teams. Two of those were on show today. In the space of 24 hours, both have proven they have the qualities to make an impact of the tournament. Yesterday the Scorchers were the dominant team, today it was the turn of the Stars.

The Perth Scorchers never got over the early loss of both openers and were outplayed by the Melbourne Stars. Both teams were unchanged, but the result was a total reversal of yesterdays. Overnight rain played a part as the Stars made most of the conditions. The Stars won by four wickets with 27 balls to spare.

The Scorchers openers of Elyse Villani and Amy Jones have played a lot of cricket together this year but couldn’t get their team off to the best start this time. Jones was the first to go as she was bowled by Holly Ferling for 9. Jones played across to one that didn’t bounce and Ferling had her prize.

When the Scorchers lost their third wicket inside the powerplay for just 12 it would require Nicole Bolton to use all her experience to help the Scorchers to get back on track. It didn’t help the Scorchers cause that there was rain in the air.

The Stars bowlers bowled tight lines give the Scorchers very little to play with. It was a feature of the wickets to fall that they were all from shots across the line. The wickets were all either lbw or bowled.

Bolton top-scored for the Scorchers with 36 from 44 balls. It showed how difficult batting was as Bolton is usually a free scorer. She perished having moved across her stumps and was bowled by Georgia Elwiss.

Kristen Beams the Stars captain was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 3 for 13 to restrict the Scorchers to 7 for 90 from their 20 overs.

Lizelle Lee was at her ebullient early in the Stars reply as she took just 19 balls to score 26 runs. It was a third of what the Stars needed to chase. Katie Mack also started to show the form that she is capable of with 33 runs from 31 balls.

The Scorchers never gave up trying to defend their low total. When Anabelle Sutherland and Alana King were both run out for 1 and 3 respectively the game was as good as over. Elwiss was batting nicely again and Erin Osborne who has shown her worth with the bat had yet to come to the crease.

The Scorchers won’t be too downhearted as they showed some fight in the field. They will also be confident that Meg Lanning will be back for them next week after missing this weekend with a back injury.