Scorchers to face Sixers with 28-run finals victory over the Stars
Two quick wickets brought Sophie Devine and Freya Kemp to the crease; Freya Kemp hit three quick boundaries in five deliveries, including a massive six off the bowling of Garth during the power surge.
The English all-rounder was given an early life after being dropped by Georgia Prestwidge.
Devine was not so lucky and was caught by Meg Lanning off McKenna’s bowling, adding only a single run to the score.
Paige Scholfield was the next player to strike out, losing just one run to Maisy Gibson and bringing Alana King to the plate.
Kemp continued to increase his run rate, scoring a quick 35 from just 19 deliveries, hitting five boundaries, including two sixes. But Annabel Sutherland struck to take her 100th WBBL wicket in the 17th over, removing the dangerous all-rounder after a good catch from Maisy Gibson.
Maddy Darke added 16 from just five deliveries and King contributed 10 runs, leaving the Stars chasing a record 174 for victory.
McKenna was the first wicket to fall for the Stars after a mix-up with fellow opener Lanning led to an easy run out after good fielding by Mack allowed bowler Chloe Ainsworth to drop the bails.
After a slow start, Lanning and Amy Jones struck down a solid partnership to take the Melbourne side to 1-86 at the drinks break.
The duo passed the 100-run mark before King attacked the Scorchers, defeating Jones and giving Mooney the opportunity for a quick innings.
Lilly Mills then took two quick wickets with Sutherland caught by Kemp for five runs and then dismissed Maia Bouchier for two.
Good fielding led to Mooney hitting Danielle Gibson, leaving the Stars at 5-126 after 15 overs.
Ainsworth then claimed the dangerous wicket of Lanning thanks to a wonderful catch from Mooney, putting the league’s leading run-scorer one point shy of his half-century.
Kemp then caught Prestwidge off the bowling of Devine and the Stars lost five wickets in five overs, needing 39 runs from 14 deliveries.
Garth was on the next over when King advanced to second thanks to a catch by Mills, leaving the Stars needing 33 runs after the final out.
Devine capped the match when he took the wicket of Moloney in the final over of the match and the Scorchers claimed victory by 28 runs.
