Beth Mooney showed once again why she’s widely regarded as the best batter in the world with a superb knock to help the Perth Scorchers book a spot in the WBBL final with a thrilling win over the Sixers.
The Scorchers will take on Hobart in Saturday’s decider after they knocked off Sydney by 11 runs thanks to Mooney’s sparkling 76 off just 44 deliveries that saw the visitors post 8-183 at North Sydney Oval.
Watch every game of the 2025 Weber WBBL LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Mooney was given a life by long-time national teammate Alyssa Healy on nine when the wicketkeeper missed a stumping chance, and the opener made her pay with an effortless knock as she reached 50 off just 27 deliveries.
It was her 47th half-century in the WBBL and the second-highest score in a finals match, with Mooney increasing her lead as the competition’s greatest run-scorer.
Mooney eventually fell to Maitlan Brown in the penultimate over, with fellow opener Katie Mack (40 off 30) providing terrific support at the top of the order.
Perth’s bowlers then did well to contain the Sixers as they booked their spot in the grand final for the first time in four years where fatigue could come into play after having to travel from Western Australia to Sydney and now down to Tasmania.
SIXERS AND OUT
They boast one of the most stacked teams in the competition, but the Sixers’ title drought now stretches to eight years after missing another opportunity at home.
Ellyse Perry can hold her head high after another quality campaign, but there was a sense of doom around the ground when she departed for 29.
That brought Healy to the crease when her team needed her most, but the former skipper could only manage one when she was knocked over by Chloe Ainsworth to complete her miserable season with the bat.
English star Sophia Dunkley got them off to a fast start but was sent packing on 41, with Perth’s bowlers then taking control with spin queen Alana King (3-17) halting any momentum the hosts had with some key wickets.
They still had a chance to win it with Amelia Kerr (42) smashing some late boundaries to leave them needing 21 off the final over, but Lilly Mills held her nerve to restrict the Sixers to 6-172.
The Sixers are on paper the best team in the WBBL, but they’ve made the finals just twice in the past seven seasons.
They had four of their top five batters reach 20 but needed someone to go on with it, while they sorely missed young gun Caoimhe Bray (back) who is facing a long stint on the sidelines.
RAIN DANCE
Fans in Sydney have missed out on plenty of cricket over the years because of wet weather, but for once they were actually hoping for rain to help their team advance.
A gloomy forecast had some people worried whether there’d be a complete game, with dark clouds and a few drops of rain forcing ground staff to bring out the covers.
But the rain never arrived to save the Sixers, with their hopes of WBBL glory left high and dry.
Discussion about this post