Sophie Devine continued her stunning all-round form to ensure Adelaide Strikers remain top of the WBBL table after thumping the struggling Melbourne Stars in Nuriootpa. Devine thumped her fourth consecutive half-century and her fifth of the tournament, making 77 not out from 58 balls as the Strikers posted 2 for 153. Devine struck five fours and three sixes in her innings and got great support from inform batter Bridget Patterson, who made 41 not out. The New Zealand allrounder then took 3 for 13 from three overs as the Stars failed to reach three figures in the chase. She took the key scalps of Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez in the powerplay. The Stars slumped to 3 for 20 when skipper Elyse Villani sliced Tahlia McGrath to cover and they never recovered.
Ellyse Perry was again central to a Sydney Sixers victory as her 81 off 70 balls formed the cornerstone of their 40-run over in the local derby against the Sydney Thunder at Drummoyne Oval to, briefly at least, sit top of the table. On a surface where free-scoring was difficult it took the Sixers time to get into their stride with Perry and Alyssa Healy an understated 0 for 57 after 10 overs. Healy, who was dropped three times, then got going before Perry took charge of the latter stages including taking 19 off the final over. The Thunder were on the back foot early in the chase as Rachel Priest and the struggling Rachael Haynes fell inside the powerplay and the innings slumped to 6 for 67 with Sarah Aley taking out the key middle-order wickets of Alex Blackwell and Phoebe Litchfield.
Still to come this weekend…
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat, Drummoyne Oval (Saturday, 7.10pm local)
Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, Drummoyne Oval (Sunday, 10am local)
Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades, Drummoyne Oval (Sunday, 2.10pm)