Kapp's day out as Perth Scorchers romp to maiden WBBL title

WBBL) title at the Perth Stadium on Saturday (November 27). A spirited run by Adelaide Strikers was halted in the finals as they fell short by 12 runs.

Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath opted to bowl first, continuing with the blueprint that worked for them in the knock-out matches. The most awaited battle of the final between Scorchers’ openers and Strikers pace unit started with Megan Schutt getting the bowl to swing to Sophie Devine. Beth Mooney seized the short ball opportunity in Darcie Brown’s opening over to score Scorchers' first boundary of the day. While Devine struggled against the pace, the pair added 37 runs in the power play.

With the most prolific opening pair of the WBBL looking to accelerate after a steady start, McGrath brought herself to bowl. After a wayward start, she got rid of Mooney with a pitched-up delivery as the southpaw holed out to mid-off for 19. Devine tried to take the charge of the innings but Dane van Niekerk’s sharp throw from the short third caught her short at the wicket-keeper’s end. Strikers continued with the fightback as Chloe Piparo was caught behind by diving Tegan McPharlin.

Heather Graham and Kapp batted sensibly to add 41 runs for the fourth wicket. Wellington’s extra bounce ended the promising partnership as Graham was caught at cover by McGrath. Kapp and Alana King clobbered 30 runs from the last three overs and Scorchers finished with 146 for five by the end of the first innings.

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In reply, Strikers got off to a nervous start as Kapp’s gave nothing away with consistent lines and lengths. She bowled two overs in the power play conceding only two runs with ten dot balls. The pressure continued at the other end with King and Taneale Peschel backing up Kapp. With Strikers struggling at 12 after four overs Devine brought herself to bowl. Strikers highest run-scorer of the season, Katie Mack, was forced to play the shot but she mistimed it to cover where King took a simple catch.

Strikers woes continued as van Niekerk was caught behind by Mooney the very next over for just six. McGrath walked in with her team struggling at 12 for two inside the power play and tried to go on the counter-attack with Laura Wolvaardt. The pair dealt with the threatening Devine with some glorious shots. McGrath got away with a few of her shots as the outside edge was beyond Mooney’s reach on multiple occasions.

It looked like the pair will carry the chase and lead strikers to their first-ever WBBL title before McGrath’s luck ran out and she was caught at backward point by Piparo for 36. Wolvaardt was next to follow as she mistimed the drive. Strikers were running out of time but Madeline Penna gave them some hope by hitting Kapp for a six in her final over of the day. Kapp removed Bridget Patterson with the fourth ball of the same over to deny any upper hand to the visitors.

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Graham conceded only seven runs from the penultimate over and dismissed Wellington and the result was just the formality. Peschal, who has been economical throughout the season got the opportunity to seal the title in the final over. She defended 22 runs off the final over and Perth Scorchers were crowned the champions of the seventh edition of WBBL.

Brief Scores:

Perth Scorchers: 146 for 5 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 35, Marizanne Kapp 31*; Tahlia McGrath 1/14) beat Adelaide Strikers: 134 for 6 in 20 overs (Tahlia McGrath 36, Madeline Penna 30*; Taneale Peschel 23/2) by 12 runs