WBBL: Perth Scorchers strangle Melbourne Stars to defend 9-124 in wet contest

Perth Scorchers’ legendary ability to defend low totals is alive and well after strangling Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval on Monday night to defend 9-124 in a 15-run victory.

Perth’s tireless bowlers were able to overcome their top-heavy batting order’s stunning collapse of 5-6 and weather superstar Meg Lanning’s 41 from 36 despite persistent drizzle.

And unsurprisingly, it was Sophie Devine intervention that led the resurrection, taking 4-17. Star spinner Alana King was sensational with 3-17 while Chloe Ainsworth chipped in with 1-15 as well as a remarkable diving catch.

The Scorchers were let off the hook for their scrappy start with the bat as the Stars handed them 13 of their first 25 runs in extras before a five-run penalty for hitting a helmet placed behind keeper Amy Jones boosted the Power Play tally to 0-36.

It came despite Katie Mack threatening to nick off all innings before finally falling to a top edge against Sophie Day for 12. The opener’s fall started a cascade that gathered speed with every wicket. Captain Beth Mooney was caught behind for 17, Devine hit one down deep mid-on’s throat for 11, and Freya Kemp went boundary, boundary, out.

The Scorcher’s were reduced to 4-70, but the innings really began to unravel from there.

Mikayla Friday, Chloe Piparo and Pakistan import Fatima Sana faced 14 deliveries between them, adding just five runs to the total.

King rallied the tail with 18 but was run out after clobbering the ball straight into her ankle and being unable to stand as Lilly Mills set off. Mills did well to scrape the visitors to 9-124.

The Scorchers had defended such totals against the Stars before and belief was high when Ainsworth removed Rhys McKenna first ball.

She could have had Jones for a duck, but Mack dropped a simple catch coming in at deep square-leg.

It cost Perth 18 before Devine sparked hope again, removing Jones and star all-rounder Annabelle Sutherland inside three deliveries.

But the key wicket was that of superstar Lanning, and when she fell to Amy Edgar caught at fine leg, the Scorchers had the game in the hand.