Devine, Mooney power Scorchers to six-wicket win over Stars, stay unbeaten

Perth Scorchers maintained their unbeaten start to WBBL|12 with a six-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval. Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bat, but the Stars managed only 136 for 6 in their 20 overs. The Scorchers chased down 137 in 15 overs, finishing on 137 for 4 with 30 balls remaining. The result took the Scorchers to 4-0, while the Stars slipped to 1-4 and suffered a fourth consecutive defeat. Sophie Devine was the standout performer with a rapid 55 off 24 balls. She hit eight fours and three sixes, reached her fifty in 21 deliveries and finished with a strike rate of 229.17. Fifty of her 55 runs came through boundaries, which is about 90.9 percent of her total. In T20 cricket, that kind of boundary-heavy scoring is crucial because it raises the run rate without relying entirely on running between the wickets. Beth Mooney contributed 28 off 24 balls at a strike rate of 116.67. The two batters played complementary roles: Devine attacked, while Mooney provided stability. That combination allowed the Scorchers to reduce risk while chasing quickly. For the Stars, Lanning top-scored with 56 off 46 balls at a strike rate of 121.74. Her innings accounted for about 41.2 percent of the team total. Georgia Prestwidge made 23 not out off 11 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up did not make a major contribution. That prevented the Stars from building a larger total and allowed the Scorchers bowlers to keep control. Devine took 2 for 18, Amy Edgar took 2 for 33 and Alana King bowled four overs for 12 runs without a wicket, recording an economy rate of 3.00. King's economical spell helped stop the Stars from building sustained momentum. Devine's all-round contribution was especially important because she delivered with the ball before changing the match with the bat. Devine's innings contrasted sharply with her previous outing, when she retired out for 42 off 39 balls. Her strike rate rose from about 107.69 to 229.17. However, two innings are not enough to conclude that this represents a permanent technical change. Pitch conditions, bowling quality, match situation and execution can all influence such a difference. A retired-out dismissal is different from retired hurt. A batter who retires out leaves the innings without an automatic right to resume. Devine linked the decision to the team's shared goals and said such choices become easier when everyone is working towards the same objective. That reflects a collective-responsibility culture at the Scorchers, though it does not mean such decisions will always be right in every situation. Despite the win, Devine indicated that the bowling unit was still conceding too many easy runs. That is an important warning for the Scorchers. Restricting the Stars to 136 for 6 was a good effort, but maintaining accurate line and length over a long season is a different challenge. If the Scorchers are to sustain success, they cannot rely entirely on Devine's aggressive batting. Support from batters such as Mooney and control from bowlers such as King will help maintain the balance. The Stars face a more immediate problem. They are 1-4 and have lost four matches in a row. Lanning's 56 was a strong individual effort, but the team needs more reliable contributions from the middle order. Prestwidge's late acceleration offers some encouragement, but one or two innings will not fix the broader batting structure. Their next match against Brisbane Heat gives them a chance to end the losing run. The Scorchers next face Sydney Thunder in a home fixture. A 4-0 start is a strong platform, but Devine herself has stressed that improvement must continue. Early wins matter most when a team keeps evolving. The WBBL is a franchise competition, so these teams should not be linked to ICC national-team rankings. The main lesson from this match is that the Scorchers combined aggressive batting, economical spin bowling and collective decision-making. Devine's all-round performance was the decisive factor, but the win would not have been so comfortable without Mooney and King. For the Stars, the priority is to reduce dependence on Lanning and find more runs across the batting order. This report is based on match-specific data; financial, audience and long-term performance conclusions would require additional information.