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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins

WBBL: Strikers beat Scorchers by six wickets with one ball to spare – as it happened

Piepa Cleary of Perth Scorchers (right) is run out during the Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers.
Piepa Cleary of Perth Scorchers (right) is run out during the Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Cracking game. Proof that limited overs cricket doesn’t need to be high scoring tall the time. A lively surface and stinking hot conditions turned this into a scrap from the get-go with ball dominating bat for the most part throughout the 32 overs after a delayed start. That serves to underline what a clutch hand it was from Suzie Bates, who was never flustered. A class act.

Actually, Bates has done it so tough out there that she can’t talk to the media after play. Fair enough. Deserves a giant bottle of water and long rest. And would you believe it: Adelaide are top of the ladder! From bottom last year to a legitimate chance of winning it all this time around. Great story. Go you good things.

Righto. That’s me done. Thanks for your company. It’s been wonderful to bring you the first WBBL OBO. We’ll be bringing you more as this competition moves towards the finals. And I’ll speak to you tomorrow from the Australia v England ODI at the MCG. Bye!

ADELAIDE WIN BY SIX WICKETS WITH ONE BALL TO SPARE.

Schutt takes on Nat Sciver at mid-on who had more than enough time to collect, throw and run out the new batsman at the non-strikers’ end to push the game to the final ball, but she fumbles! It’s game over! Bates absolutely outstanding, 49 not out from 47 in the searing heat. A huge win for her side.

WICKET! Patterson b King 0 (Adelaide 87-4)

Scores level as King goes through Patterson’s gate trying to slog-sweep the winning run! Bates did it so well early in the over, twice taking two into the legside from shots that would usually bring one. But the job isn’t done yet. Schutt to face. One needed from two balls.

15th over (of 16): Adelaide Strikers 82-3 (Bates 44, Patterson 0) Dot, dot! Brunt has held up her end of the bargain. Patteron can’t make contact to a full ball on leg stump then tries to get resourceful with a ramp but misses the ball. Six needed from the last over. Crucially, Bates is on strike. The off-spinner King has the ball in her hand.

WICKET! McGrath b Brunt 14 (Adelaide 82-3)

Fast, straight, bowled! With six runs to play with, it might be too late. But they needed the breakthrough to have any chance. Earlier in the over Mel Jones pondered whether they had left it an over too late to get Brunt back - maybe they did. But they are alive. Six off eight balls needed as Patterson fronts up.

14th over (of 16): Adelaide Strikers 79-2 (Bates 42, McGrath 13) Sciver on for her first over, the England all-rounder not having the best time of it with the ball of late. But she has the ability to take big wickets. Can’t first up here though, Bates getting that elusive second boundary with a thick edge down the third man. Gets a couple from an in-field bunt later in the over. Ten for victory now. They feel home. Make that nine, Bates keeping the strike with a slap through midwicket. Two overs to come.

13th over: Adelaide Strikers 70-2 (Bates 34, McGrath 12) Five from the King over, all in singles. Well bowled again from the offie. They require 18 from 18 balls. Bates hasn’t scored a boundary since the first ball she faced; the first ball of the innings.

A bit going on at the other game as well. Per the AAP report. “A loose panel in the SCG roof is believed to have forced a delay to the start of the Sydney derby WBBL double-header by at least half an hour. Play in the clash between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder was delayed after the toss on Saturday when gates remained closed due to a “venue issue”.”


12th over: Adelaide Strikers 65-2 (Bates 31, McGrath 10) That’s better. McGrath down the track to the medium pace of Graham and clips beautifully over midwicket. With three singles before that, and a couple more in the same direction, it’ s a timely good over. Nine from it.

11th over: Adelaide Strikers 56-2 (Bates 29, McGrath 3) What a great first over from Emma King with her off-breaks. Three times she found the inside edge. Just two singles. If they get Bates here, Perth could just about defend this I reckon



10th over: Adelaide Strikers 54-2 (Bates 28, McGrath 2) An over of consolidation. McGrath has a very good head on her shoulders, as evidenced by her hand in the Women’s Ashes Test Match, involved in a vital 100-run stand with Ellyse Perry. Well bowled again Heather Graham.

WICKET! Devine run out Smith 18 (Adelaide 51-2)

Oh no! Misfield at third man, Devine runs back for the third run and Bates doesn’t move at all. A bad mix-up from the international teammates. Just after the score passed 50 and they looked set to push to the finish line with Devine thrashing one of the Cleary deliveries to the rope through extra cover. 37 needed off 42. Can Bates finish it off. “A little bit frustrating,” says Devine on the TV. But backs in Bates preserving her own wicket as the senior player.

9th over: Adelaide Strikers 51-2 (Bates 27, McGrath 0)

8th over: Adelaide Strikers 40-1 (Bates 23, Devine 12) That’s a very clever first over from the all-rounder Graham, with a series of slower balls and cutters. Three from it. Up to a run a ball required now. But Perth will need to do more than keep the run rate down. Somehow, this partnership needs to be broken.

7th over: Adelaide Strikers 37-1 (Bates 21, Devine 10) Cleary into it now with her right arm mediums. Bates cuts a few from her first ball, and she misses wide down the legside later in the over at Devine. But keeps her cool, going only for six from the set.

Updated

6th over: Adelaide Strikers 31-1 (Bates 17, Devine 10) Okay, she’s away now Devine. Very, very rarely is she 4 from 12. Makes it 8 from 13 when smacking Bolton back down the ground. Four further singles makes it Adelaide’s best over so far.



5th over: Adelaide Strikers 23-1 (Bates 15, Devine 4) Perth using the same plan as Adelaide earlier, bowling their gun quick Brunt for three off the top just as it was for Schutt, who bowled four straight. Sprays a wide to begin but recovers well with a few dots. No boundaries off her yet. Bates has so much experience under her belt with a decade at the top and an Olympic Games as well (basketball). So she won’t be stressing out.

Piepa Cleary of Perth Scorchers reacts after being run out during the Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers at Traeger Park, Alice Springs.
Piepa Cleary of Perth Scorchers reacts after being run out during the Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers at Traeger Park, Alice Springs. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Updated

4th over: Adelaide Strikers 17-1 (Bates 13, Devine 3) And just two singles from Bolton’s over! She’s become a bit of a weapon in the power play with her innocuous little off-breaks. Said herself in a chat with Geoff and my podcast during the Women’s Ashes that if she is getting a bowl, something isn’t quite going right. But on three occasions in WBBL03 she has taken a wicket in the first six overs. Nearing a run a ball required now.

3rd over: Adelaide Strikers 15-1 (Bates 12, Devine 3) Brunt just as tidy. Three singles. No issues for Adelaide, but Bates will know it is essential that she leads this chase. Will be interesting to see if Devine tries to put a big dint in it. Hits them a mile.

2nd over: Adelaide Strikers 12-1 (Bates 10, Devine 2) Five runs, no boundaries. This is going to be a scrap. You can just feel it.

1st over: Adelaide Strikers 7-1 (Bates 7, Devine 0) Earlier, Bates helped herself to a boundary first ball when Brunt slips down the legside. Then played a lovely cut shot, cut off on the rope. “She’ll cut anything,” Mel Jones says of Bates. “You cannot give her any width.” Brunt doesn’t with the next delivery, right on the money and winning an inside edge, in a sign of what was to come when she got a chance at her England teammate Beaumont.

WICKET! Beaumont lbw b Brunt 0 (Adelaide 7-1)

Brunt gets Beaumont first ball that she faces! Given leg before despite coming a long way down. But it hasn’t bounced much and hit below the knee. Looks very out. Huge response from Brunt!

Such a good performance from Adelaide. Starting with Schutt in the first over going through Villani with a ripper, to the accurate swing of McGrath and the spin of Wellington. Not to forget the wicketkeeping of McPharlin. Throw in a couple of run outs and they’ve done a lot right. Can they finish it off and consolidate their position in the top four? We’ll find out in about ten minutes.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS REQUIRE 88 TO WIN.

16th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 87-9 (King 2, Smith 0) No further runs added, Price finishing off the innings nicely with her off-spin. Should have been a third stumping from McPharlin, but she can’t glove the delivery through the gate. Here’s that Wellington ball from last over. She’s quickly becoming a one-woman highlights reel.



WICKET! Cleary run out Bates 4 (Perth 87-9)

Oh dear, Cleary has made it to the other end in time but not grounded the bat. “School-girl error,” Mel Jones says on the TV. Sharp work again from Adelaide, this time the captain Bates at midwicket with the direct hit. “This has been an outstanding team performance,” says Andy Maher on the TV of the Strikers. Four ballls to go.

WICKET! Newton b Wellington 5 (Perth 78-8)

That’s spun a mile! Newton comes down the track to Wellington who pitches it waaaaay outside leg stump, but she doesn’t get to the ball. It turns square, crashing into the middle stump. A lot of flight and drift. What a highlight reel the Strikers have put together so far today. Some excellent wickets for them today.

15th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 85-8 (Cleary 3, King 1)




WICKET! Graham st McPharlin b McGrath 19 (Perth 74-7)

Class from McPharlin! Earlier in the over she had a chance to stump Newton and didn’t quite glove it. Not this time though, again down the legisde, she stayed low and kept her cool to get the bails off with Graham on strike. A far bigger wicket. McGrath has three for the innings alongside her run out. She’s having a big impact on this game. Pope nearly nails another run out to finish the over, her throw just missing. Perth sinking here.

14th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 76-7 (Newton 4, Cleary 1)

13th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 70-6 (Graham 18, Newton 2) A bit of chat on the TV whether McPharlin’s gloves were in front of the stumps when she took the stumping in the previous over. It’s touch and go. The third umpire didn’t consider that (by the looks) ahead of making the decision. Graham takes Wellington down the ground for one, Newton square. She’s off the mark. A couple more singles. No boundaries, though.



WICKET! Piparo st McPharlin b McGrath 2 (Perth 65-6)

Wow! That’s some sharp ‘keeping from McPharlin, who had the bails off in no time after Piparo went for an ill-fated dance off McGrath. Lovely bit of shape away from the right hander was enough to beat the bat and win the wicket. Very impressive cricket.

12th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 65-6 (Graham 15, Newton 0) A lot of pressure on Graham now, who did get one of the deliveries away fine before the wicket fell. Seeing them well. Has to find a way to get Perth to 90-odd.


Updated

11th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 59-5 (Graham 10, Piparo 1) Piparo off the mark through midwicket off Wellington. Graham takes her on, smacking the leggie over her head and over the rope for SIX! Our first of those for the day. Graham is a member of the national set up through the Shooting Stars and can’t be far off making a senior squad debut. Shots like that will help. Eight from it. Seven overs to come.



WICKET! Brunt run out 3 (Perth 50-5)

Two in an over! McGrath collects off her own bowling and nails the stumps with Brunt out by a foot or more at the non-strikers’ end. What a talent she is in all facets of the game. Could have had her second ball ater winning the charging Brunt’s outside edge via a lovel bit of movement. “The seam was presented beautifully,” Lisa Sthalekar says on the telly.

10th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 51-5 (Graham 3, Piparo 0)

WICKET! Ebsary c&b McGrath (Perth 46-4)

A third wicket from a slower ball! The veteran completely misread the legcutter, spooning a catch straight back to the young Australian all-rounder’s first ball of the day. The Scorchers are in real strife.

9th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 46-3 (Ebsary 16, Graham 2) Wello! The gifted 20-year-old spinner made her name on TV against the Scorchers on NYE in 2015. Watching the spell, Adam Gilchrist described her as the next Shane Warne. Isn’t effective here though, allowing Ebsary to smack her through midwicket from a full toss. Easy pickings. Beat her outside edge earlier in the over, so that’ll frustrate the bowler. Singles exchanged through square leg to finish the over. Eight from it.



WICKET! Bolton c McGrath b Bates 10 (Perth 35-3)

Holes out to mid-off. Bates gets the breakthrough with another clever little slower one, running her fingers down the seam. Could have had Ebsary earlier in the set with what would have been an Archer-like take in her follow through with one hand. But Bolton is the one she would have wanted more. Adelaide into a fantastic position.

8th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 38-3 (Ebsary 10, Graham 1) Graham immediately away with a single to point. Ebsary pulls a couple to finish. Half way there.

7th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 33-2 (Bolton 9, Ebsary 7) Ooh! Pope misses with a throw from cover point. Would have ran Bolton out. Schutt is bowling her fourth over here off the top - very rare in T20 cricket. But makes sense with the pitch unlikely to get any better for her expert swing and seam combination. Earlier in the over, Ebsary steered a boundary to third man. Deserved better than 1/18 from her spell. Top notch.



6th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 27-2 (Bolton 8, Ebsary 2) Bates brings herself on for a bit more medium pace. Can get the ball moving around and the conditions suit. Singles to each start the over, McPhalin then up to the stumps. Nice timing from Bolton turning squre. A lot of pressure shifting onto her with Villani and Sciver both already gone. Just the four singles from it.

5th over (of 16): Perth Scorchers 23-2 (Bolton 6, Ebsary 0) Only one bowler can bowl four overs due to the changed playing conditions - remember, this is a rain-reduced game of 16 overs. Schutt into her third now. Has a slip and a gully in. They’re going for the throat and rightly so. This is excellent, tight bowling from the Australian numero uno. Only one run from it, a single to Bolton. Ample respect being shown here.

Suzie Bates of the Strikers and Elyse Villani of the Scorchers exchange team sheets during.
Suzie Bates of the Strikers and Elyse Villani of the Scorchers exchange team sheets during. Photograph: Jason McCawley/Getty Images



Updated

WICKET! Sciver b Devine 12 (Perth 22-2)

Oh yes, the perfect slower ball yorker from Devine! Just after Sciver looked to have blown out the cobwebs with a lovely drive down the ground. But she’s copped a beauty there. The pace off, it has dipped on her from above the eyeline ala Ian Harvey.

4th over: Perth Scorchers 22-2 (Bolton 5, Ebsary 0)

3rd over: Perth Scorchers 15-1 (Bolton 5, Sciver 8) A true edge from Sciver, but Schutt doesn’t have a slip in operation so the ball races away to third man for the first boundary of the clash. Grabs another to midwicket from a ball that once again does plenty coming back at the right hander. Bolton clips well behind square. Looking good early. Nine from it after a couple of further singles.

Tabatha Saville is on the mic with Network Ten, playing for the Strikers. This is her home ground. Some advice to those playing today for handling the warm conditions? “Drink a lot of water and don’t be an idiot.” Brilliant.

2nd over: Perth Scorchers 6-1 (Bolton 2, Sciver 2) Devine opening up, the New Zealand international. Bowls medium pace. Both players off the mark with singles. It is Sciver at three not Brunt, contrary to the team sheet. The England megastar has ample time to put her stamp on it here. Bolton collects another behind square. Devine wins her edge last ball, but it is safe through the vacant backward point region. Good set.



WICKET! Villani b Schutt 2 (Perth Scorchers 2-1)

Tremendous bowling! Shooter one jag back at her Australian teammate early in the over, and then it again two balls later just clipping the off-stump. It was a big swing across the line, collecting a small edge or possibly her pad. Has came back a mile. That’s class. Breakthroughs don’t come much bigger than that.

1st over: Perth Scorchers 2-1 (Bolton 0, Sciver 0)

The players are on the field! The captain Vilani and Bolton racing out to the middle to open the batting for Perth. Megan Schutt has the ball in her hand for the Strikers. PLAY!

Oh, I forgot to mention. That we should talk. How are you finding the season so far? Are you new to women’s cricket? If so, stick around. It’s brilliant. I was back through my World Cup Final OBO the other day, and it brought back what an unforgettable month it was. Without a doubt that day at Lord’s was my cricket highlight of 2017. In a very competitive field. Anyaaaa. Hit me up on email or the tweet. Hang with me.

Hang with me.

And the Scorchers. Another team stacked with international talent that continues to fall just short of what we all expect. Currently they sit fifth on the table and I just don’t get it. Lost the final last year at home, which cut deep. But they did split the difference last week against top of the ladder Sydney Thunder, which isn’t for nothing.

Perth Scorchers poses for a team photo before their Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers in Alice Springs.
Perth Scorchers poses for a team photo before their Women’s Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers in Alice Springs. Photograph: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

They didn’t want to bat first, but it is where the Perth side’s main strenth is. Especially with the opening pair of Villani and Bolton, who are both having fantastic seasons. The former has the second most runs in the comp and should comfortably pass the 500-run barrier by the time she is done. Only Meg Lanning achieved that in the WBBL (twice).

I like that Brunt has been shuffled to three. Her main gig is what she does with the ball, the most accomplished fast bowler in the women’s game. But in recent years she has found a home as a thrasher with the bat as well. Oh, and Nat Sciver. Yep, the same Nat Sciver who was given the gong (by Vish and me) as the Queen of the World Cup.

Updated

Let’s get stuck into these teams. First, Adelaide Strikers. I backed them to win the whole thing last season and they came last. So perhaps I’m not the best judge.

Consistency remains an issue. Take the week after Christmas. There, they had the chance to really consolidate their spot in the top four with a pair of games against the Heat at home and lost them both. But they did manage to sneak home against the Stars on Tuesday in a crazy last ball finish. Geoff and I wrote about that here.

A bit of pressure on Suzie Bates, actually. Made a ton to start the season but hasn’t dominated quite like that since. She’s class, though, the Kiwi captain. Her international teammate Sophie Devine is due as well. Nobody hits the ball further in women’s cricket, but her she’s been more effective with ball than bat so far in WBBL03. Not to forget Tammy Beaumont, who was player of the World Cup in July. Fantastic line-up.

It was as a real honour to speak about Amanda Wellington last week at the Australian Media Cricket Association awards when she was given the gong as the women’s emerging player of the year. Made her name bowling massive leg breaks on TV in season one of the comp as an 18-year-old. Also with the ball, watch for Megan Schutt, by far Australia’s best white-ball bowler. She’ll open up then bowl at the death. Whether or not they can make the first postseason will rely heavily on what they can do this weekend.

These are the first ever Big Bash games in the Northern Territory. Fantastic stuff. Today the teams are playing for the Faith Thomas Cup, who was Australia’s first Indigenous Test cricketer. Russell Jackson wrote a beautiful profile of her last summer if you want to learn more about her story. A true pioneer of Australian sport.

Adelaide win the toss and they are having a bowl (16 overs per team, rain reduced)

No hesitation from New Zealand superstar Suzie Bates popping in her old team. “Our plans will remain the same,” she says of the reduced overs. Elyse Villani, the Perth captain, confirms she would have bowled as well.

Updated

Covers off the pitch. Good news. TV broadcast has started on Network Ten. They have confirmed it will be a delayed start but they should get most of the overs in. Update: we will be starting 30 minutes late. So, that’s 11:20am local / 12:50pm AEDST.

Updated

Uh oh... delayed start.



Welcome to Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers

When the WBBL began in November 2015, there was a decent degree of cynicism as to whether such a thing could work. Especially on the telly. Why would people watch players they have never heard of before? Who cares about women’s cricket anyway?

Well, three years on we don’t hear much of that anymore. Cricket Australia reported a series of numbers during the week that speak for themselves. The most impressive of those: 284,000 people are tuning in, on average, to the live broadcast games. In season one, competition organisers budgeted for that to be 40,000. Remarkable.

And today, I’m thrilled to bring our inaugural WBBL OBO between the Strikers and the Scorchers from Alice Springs. A proper mid-table scrap and the is the first of two clashes between the teams this weekend. The toss is up in a tic. I’ll take a look at that before getting stuck into the teams and who to look out for.

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