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.
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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.
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.
Jarijari
Guest
.Well done Thunder girls, awesome pack of bowlers.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers ended up on 9/110, giving the Sydney Thunder an 8 run victory. Wow, what a finish. This was an incredible fight back from the Thunder with the ball. Their total of 118 looked vulnerable, and when Villani found her feet early it looked ominous for the Sydney team. But after the powerplay the spinners came on and started the wickets tumbling, which dried up the runs until the target got further and further out of reach. Desperation lead to more wickets falling late as the Scorchers tried to stay in the game. Very good execution by the key Thunder bowlers - Carey, Cheatle and Farrell - late as well. The Scorchers will be disappointed that they let this one slip away after such a good start, but the Thunder showed why they've been the team to beat all season. That was another cracker of a WBBL game, these girls just keep on delivering the goods. Join me back here tomorrow afternoon as we cover the second WBBL semi final between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers, to see who joins the Thunder in the first WBBL final on Sunday.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Shaw is caught deep at midwicket needing 9 runs off the last ball, and the Thunder pull it off!
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Farrell follows up a wide ball with a yorker that traps Brunt LBW Scorchers 8/110 Need 9 off the last 2 balls
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Boundary! Brunt ramps it to the fine leg rope. Scorchers 7/109 Need 10 from 3 balls
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Two dot balls to begin the over from Farrell! Scorchers 7/105 Need 14 off 4 balls
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 19: 111211 Carey with a solid over to restrict the Scorchers to 6 runs. Big final over ahead - Scorchers need 14 to win! Scorchers 7/105 H Graham 8 K Brunt 14 N Carey 2/28 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 18: 14111wd2 Just what the Scorchers needed - 11 off the over. 20 required from the final two overs. Scorchers 7/99 H Graham 6 K Brunt 11 L Cheatle 0/24 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 17: .14.W1 Wallace finds another handy boundary but holes out. 31 needed off the last three overs - it's going to be a close one! Scorchers 7/88 H Graham 0 K Brunt 7 N Carey 2/22 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Wallace's cameo ends as she dispatches a juicy full toss straight to the boundary rider. RRR over 10 now. J Wallace c Haynes b Carey 8 Scorchers 7/87
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 16: .1.1W4 Another over, another wicket. Wallace smacks a boundary first ball, but this is now an uphill climb for Perth. Scorchers 6/82 J Wallace 4 K Brunt 5 R Farrell 1/15 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! After a dropped catch in the field, Rene Farrell gets the job done herself taking a caught and bowled. Scorchers' task looks harder and harder with less than five overs to go and still 41 to get. Emma Biss c & b Farrell 1 Scorchers 6/78
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 15: 111.Wb Another wicket falls as the required run rate is now over 8.00 for the Scorchers. Big finish coming up here in Adelaide. Scorchers 5/76 E Biss 0 K Brunt 4 N Carey 1/16 (2)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! A big wicket for the Thunder as Piparo, who was playing some nice shots, goes for a cut shot and edges straight to the keeper. Chloe Piparo c Koski wk b Carey 17 Scorchers 5/75
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 14: .11431 A great over in reply from the Scorchers, Piparo is seeing them really well. Scorchers 4/72 C Piparo 16 K Brunt 2 E Osborne 1/21 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 13: 1..41W WICKET! Bates bangs it straight back to Gibson, and this time she makes sure of the catch. Gibson finishes her overs with 2/16, and the spinners have turned this game around. Scorchers 4/62 C Piparo 8 S Bates c & b Gibson 11 M Gibson 2/16 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 12: ..1111 .Four singles off the over as Piparo and Bates look to steady the ship. The equation is getting more and more interesting. Scorchers 3/56 C Piparo 3 S Bates 10 E Osborne 1/11 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 11: ..W1.. Bolton goes for 1 and suddenly it looks like we have a real contest brewing here. As the wickets have come, the runs have gone. Scorchers 3/52 C Piparo 1 S Bates 8 M Gibson 1/10 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Skipper Nicole Bolton comes and goes as she skies one straight to Cheatle at mid off. Nicole Bolton c Cheatle b Gibson 1 Scorchers 3/51
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Scorchers Innings Over 10: ..W11. Osborne removes Edwards and only concedes 2 runs as the Thunder remain in the contest. Scorchers 2/51 N Bolton 1 S Bates 8 E Osborne 1/7 (2)