Devine blitzkrieg sinks Sixers; Lanning sets up Stars' victory over Heat

When Sophie Devine bats in the middle, you just keep watching as she throws the opposition bowlers over the ropes at will. On Sunday morning at Hurstville Oval in Sydney, the big-hitting New Zealander was at her attacking best hitting the maiden century of the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) against table-toppers Sydney Sixers.



On the other hand, bowlers came up to the fore as Melbourne Stars trounced Brisbane Heat by 23 runs despite a fighting half-century by Grace Harris. Scorchers won the encounter by 36 runs. With this win, Stars top the table with 11 points from seven games. Scorchers are at fifth spot with six points from seven games.



Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers 



It was Devine's day. With scores of 26, 31 not out, 0, 7 and 11, the right-hander was hungry to get back among runs. Like the previous matches, Devine started on a cautious note hitting a boundary each in the first four overs. However, the New Zealand skipper started opening her arms when she hit Ashleigh Gardner for a four and three consecutive sixes in the fifth over.



ALSO READ: It’s too early to write us off, says Brisbane Heat’s Georgia Redmayne



Thereafter she kept on picking up singles and twos with occasional boundaries with Mooney started taking the charge at the other end. Devine also hit Ellyse Perry for a couple of back-to-back sixes in the 16th over. However, the 141-run opening wicket partnership was finally broken when Mooney was caught by Marizanne Kapp off Dane van Niekerk in the 17th over.



At the other end, Devine kept her onslaught going with a flurry of sixes. She hit Kapp for a six to bring up her three figures. Devine was finally run out for 103 off 68 balls with five fours and seven sixes. Scorchers finished at 183/4 in 20 overs. With this century, Devine joined the likes of Lizelle Lee and Suzie Bates for most career T20 tons - 5.



In reply, a fighting half-century from Kapp could do no good for Sixers as they fell short by 36 runs. Perry, who has had a mixed bag tournament till now was the first one to go for six before Gardner followed suit with Sixers reeling at 13/2 in the fourth over. Alyssa Healy hit a couple of fours before she was out for 18.



ALSO READ: Natalie Sciver, Meg Lanning hand Melbourne Stars a comprehensive victory



Thereon, Kapp along with Burns stitched together 62 runs for the fourth wicket. Although Burns was out for 34, Kapp remained unbeaten for 53-ball 68 as Sixers finished at 147/5 in 20 overs. Taneale Peschel (2/28) and Heather Graham (2/30) got wickets for Scorchers.



Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat       



Chasing a mammoth 178 for victory, Heat lost five wickets in a space of just 14 runs to concede the match from their hands. Opening the batting, Harris and Georgia Redmayne made full use of the powerplay before the latter was out for 19 caught behind off the bowling of Holly Ferling.



The dismissal of Redmayne triggered a collapse as Heat went from 39/1 in 5.4 overs to slump at 54/5 in nine overs with Jess Jonassen, Maddy Green, Laura Kimmince and Amelia Kerr all making their way to the dugout one after another.



South African import Nadine de Klerk (10) and Georgia Voll (21) both joined Harris in the middle in a quest to save the sinking ship forging 23 and 52 runs respectively but it was too late by then. Heat eventually finished at 154/8 in 2o overs. Alana King was the pick of the bowlers with 2/22 while Sutherland, Ferling, Sophie Day and Tess Flintoff all got a wicket apiece.



ALSO READ: Hannah emerges Thunder’s Darling; Stafanie, bowlers shine for Strikers



Earlier, skipper Meg Lanning (54) and Elyse Villani (25) gave Melbourne Stars a rocking start putting up 68 runs in the power play. The duo played some delightful shots all over the park to send the opposition bowlers packing at will. However, both were undone by Kerr. While Villani was caught plumb, the New Zealander made her way through Lanning’s timber.



Mignon du Preez was out for 12 before Annabel Sutherland (23) and Erin Osborne (20) played some handy knocks towards the end to take the score past the 170-run mark. Besides, Kerr, Harris (2/17), Jonassen (1/34) and Grace Sippel (1/26) also took wickets. Harris carried her bat for an unbeaten 81 off 52 balls laced with seven fours and four sixes.



Brief scores:



Melbourne Stars 177/9 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 54; Amelia Kerr 3/35) beat Brisbane Heat 154/8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 81*; Alana King 2/22) by 23 runs.



Perth Scorchers 183/4 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 103, Beth Mooney 60) beat Sydney Sixers 147/5 in 20 overs (Marizanne Kapp 68*, Erin Burns 34; Taneale Peschel 2/28) by 36 runs.