A 137-run opening partnership between captain Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney has helped the Perth Scorchers to a 12-run victory over the Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash League.
Mooney and Devine led the Scorchers to 3-177 which was too much for the hosts to overcome as Perth moved top of the WBBL ladder.
Playing in her 100th WBBL game, Mooney (78) hit 10 fours as she and Devine (61) punished the Strikers' errant bowling attack at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval.
The pair got off to a fast start in the powerplay, leading the Scorchers to 0-50 after six overs.
It didn't help the Strikers' cause that Dane van Niekerk dropped Devine early and they then botched a chance to claim Mooney's wicket in a run-out.
The duo continued to keep the scoreboard moving until the 16th over when Devine fell first by scooping a Megan Schutt delivery into the arms of Darcie Brown at extra cover.
Mooney went less than two overs later when she played a similar shot off Sarah Coyte that was caught by Jemma Barsby.
The loss of two wickets in quick succession halted the Scorchers' impetus, but Heather Graham hit 22 off 11 balls before she was dismissed towards the end of the final over.
Set a target of 178, the hosts got off to the worst possible start when van Niekerk edged a ball from her wife, Marizanne Kapp, to backward square leg to be out for five in the second over.
Katie Mack (84no) and Laura Wolvaardt (40) steadied the ship to combine for a partnership of 90 before the latter was caught by Mathilda Carmichael at cow corner in the 12th over.
With 24 balls remaining, the Strikers needed 47 runs and Mack was determined to not go down without a fight.
But her best efforts were in vain as Tahlia McGrath and Bridget Patterson both fell cheaply to Graham as the Strikers finished 5-165.
