The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers: WBBL semi-final live scores, blog

21st January, 2016
Start: 2:40pm AEDT
Venue: Adelaide Oval
TV: Live, ONEHD
Last meeting: Thunder won by 8 wickets
Head-to-head: Thunder 2, Scorchers 0
The Perth Scorchers. (Image: Perth Scorchers)
Roar Pro
21st January, 2016
60
1004 Reads

The Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers face off in the first Women’s Big Bash League semi-final at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:30pm (AEDT).

The Thunder finished the first ever WBBL clear atop the ladder after an exemplary season.

» WBBL live stream: how to watch every game of WBBL|02
» WBBL Fixtures: The complete schedule for the second season
» WBBL on The Roar

The Scorchers were an early form side that ended up securing fourth position on net run rate on the very last day of the season, but could yet be dark horses to win the competition after coming into some fine form.

The Thunder didn’t have an easy end to the regular season, suffering losses to the Stars and Sixers on the weekend, before finishing on a high, beating the Stars on Sunday to secure first place.

Perth, on the other hand, have hit their stride again, belting the Renegades by nine wickets in back-to-back wins in Adelaide.

The two teams clashed a couple of times back in December, as the Thunder travelled to Perth over Christmas and managed to leave with two wins over the Scorchers in the blistering heat.

This game looks to be a battle of the top order. In Perth it was the Thunder openers who did the damage, and the Scorchers will want to make sure they don’t get off to another commanding start.

Advertisement

Similarly, the Scorchers’ top order comes into this game in white-hot form. Charlotte Edwards and Elyse Villani both notched up 70s over the weekend, as Perth only lost two wickets in two games as they chased down the Renegades with ease. Taking early wickets will be the number one priority for the Thunder, or else the game could be taken away from them.

Easier said than done, but the Thunder have a young bowling attack whose potency belies their age. Rene Farrell is the second-highest wicket taker in the competition, and along with recent Australian call-up Lauren Cheatle will need to spearhead the attack for the girls in green, and try to restrict the runs on what should be a beautiful Adelaide pitch.

Perth will look towards English pacewoman Nicky Shaw, who will be hoping to continue her wicket-taking form, along with fellow Pom Katherine Brunt.

The WBBL has been so closely contested that picking winners is extraordinarily hard, especially now we’ve reached the pointy end of the competition. The Scorchers will be bolstered from their recent form and will like their chances in Adelaide, but the Thunder have been the team to beat in the WBBL for a reason, and should be able to advance to the final.

Join The Roar from 2:30pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates on the game.

close