Perth Scorchers‘ veteran allrounder Sophie Devine showcased all her class with the ball to inspire a 15-run WBBL win over the Melbourne Stars.

The Scorchers struggled to make 124 for 9 at Junction Oval on Monday night before 37-year-old Devine captured 4 for 19, hitting the two-paced deck hard and taking the key wickets of Australia allrounder Annabel Sutherland (0) and England captain Charlie Dean (13). Dean was brilliantly stumped by new Scorchers captain Beth Mooney.

The Stars still appeared in control at 79 for 4, but Mooney took another slick catch standing up to the stumps, as drizzle fell throughout the chase.
“It was all about trying to get the ball on the stumps,” Player-of-the-Match Devine said. “Moons (Mooney) probably made me look better than I was. It was a whole team effort, which is what we really pride ourselves on.”

When Stars captain Meg Lanning (41) fell to make it 79 for 5, the visitors were cock-a-hoop in the chase. Lanning was easily the best batter on either side. Soon after, Scorchers legspinner Alana King claimed a double-wicket maiden in the 18th over to finish with 3 for 17 in a class display, as the Stars were bundled out for 109 in 18.1 overs.

Earlier, the Scorchers were cruising at 36 for no loss after the powerplay but the introduction of spin derailed them. Stars and England wicketkeeper Amy Jones was brilliant and took two leg-side screamers among her four catches, enhancing her reputation as one of the game’s best when standing up to the stumps.

Perth advanced to 70 for 2, but that soon became 76 for 7. Left-arm orthodox bowler Sophie Day, offspinner Dean, and legspinner Maisy Gibson brought variety and guile to their work to exploit the conditions. Each picked up two wickets.

Perth opener Mooney, who has assumed the captaincy from long-serving skipper Devine, made 17. That was only bettered by allrounder King (18) who was run out when unable to run after slamming a shot into her own foot, but the target proved to be just enough for the Scorchers in a low-scoring contest.