Another Perry masterclass sees Sixers return to the top of the table

Ellyse Perry played a captain's knock of 81 to guide Sydney Sixers to a 40-run win over Sydney Thunder in the ongoing Women's Big Bash League at Drummoyne Oval on Friday (November 15). With the victory, Sixers have returned to the top of the table.

Perry and Alyssa Healy gave Sixers a flying start after having been sent in to bat first. The Australian stars combined to put on 85 runs for the opening wicket, which saw Perry getting a lifeline twice. First Tahlia Wilson misjudged the ball and failed to hang on to a catch at deep extra cover, before a couple of overs later Phoebe Litchfield put down an easy catch at square leg.

Thunder began to pull back things as Samantha Bates got the big breakthrough. The aggressive Healy, who was dropped on 10, got stumped for a quick 40 off 29 balls, bringing Ashleigh Gardner to the crease. Although Perry could not find a lasting support at the other end, she single-handedly carried the momentum. The allrounder completed a 55-ball fifty and also became the first player to reach 2500 runs in WBBL history.

Perry dragged the scoreboard until she got run out off the last ball of the final over, which saw her hammering Rene Farrell for 19 runs to help Sixers post 152 for 3. For Thunder, Bates and Lisa Griffith returned with one wicket each as the side's fielding remained mediocre.

In reply, Rachel Priest fired with back to back boundaries, but Sixers were quick to change the script as Marizanne Kapp took an easy catch to Priest (16) off Gardner. After his dismissal, Thunder lost their rhythm and no top order batter could rebuild the innings.

In the last five overs, Hannah Darlington and Farrell combined to take the total to some respectability. The duo stole a couple of cheeky runs but then a mix-up led to Darlington's dismissal and Thunder were restricted to 112 for the loss of eight wickets. For Sixers, Sarah Aley returned with two wickets.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 152/3 (Ellyse Perry 81, Alyssa Healy 40) beat Sydney Thunder 112/8 (Rene Farrell 23, Hannah Darlington 23; Sarah Aley 2-16) by 40 runs. PoM: Ellyse Perry