After heartbreak in two previous WBBL deciders, the Perth Scorchers have secured their first title with Marizanne Kapp overcoming a week of illness to lead the way.
Star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has overcome a week of illness to lead the Perth Scorchers to a maiden WBBL title.
In the searing Perth heat, it was the Adelaide Strikers who wilted as the team in orange celebrated a 12-run win in front of 15,511 fans at Optus Stadium — the highest ever attendance for a stand-alone WBBL match.
Kapp posted her highest score of the tournament of 31 not out to see the Scorchers to a tricky target of 147, before helping strangle the Strikers with 1-25 from her four overs with the ball.
It was a case of third-time lucky for the Scorchers after heartbreak in the both the WBBL02 and 03 deciders — when ironically Kapp was wearing Sydney Sixers colours.
The Scorchers did the damage in a disastrous powerplay in which the Strikers lost both openers cheaply and managed just 16 runs.
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Tahlia McGrath (36) and Madeline Penna (30 not out) provided some resistance but there was simply too much ground to make up as the visitors ended their innings at 6-134.
The Strikers won the bat flip and elected to send Perth in, with the most successful WBBL opening partnership in Beth Mooney (19) and Sophie Devine (35) reaching yet 52 before the wickets began to tumble.
Kapp and important cameos from Heather Graham (23) and Alana King (14 not out off just 5 balls) helped the home side to 5-146.
Wife against wife
The battle between married South African stars Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk was hotly anticipated going into the final and the pair didn’t disappoint.
Together, the pair have won every major T20 league title. But this time there could be only one winner.
Van Niekerk landed the first blow against Kapp’s Scorchers when she dismissed Devine with a brilliant direct hit.
Kapp managed a couple of singles off van Niekerk’s bowling before the Scorchers’ strike bowler had her chance against the Adelaide opener.
Van Niekerk suffered the indignity of six consecutive dot balls in her wife’s second over as she struggled to find her way on the Perth pitch.
But van Niekerk might have been relieved that after Kapp claimed her wicket in the previous two meetings, it was Taneale Peschel who dismissed her caught behind for just six off 13 balls.
Get out of the way
Tahlia McGrath had a huge job to do after arriving at the crease with her side struggling at 2-12.
The star all-rounder was on just six and sprinting for a tight run when Beth Mooney had a shy at the stumps at the bowler’s end.
It was on target and would have had the Strikers captain out if Lisa Griffith hadn’t stuck her hand out and sent the ball off course.
It’s fair to say Mooney was far from happy.
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