Mushangwe takes career-best 5-11 as Strikers end Scorchers' unbeaten WBBL start

Adelaide Strikers ended Perth Scorchers' unbeaten start to WBBL|12 with a 51-run win at the WACA Ground on Saturday 14 November, as Anesu Mushangwe took a career-best 5-11 and Laura Wolvaardt hit an unbeaten 83.

The Strikers made 4-202 from their 20 overs, their highest-ever score according to Cricket-Australia, and the Scorchers were held to 9-150. BBC Sport lists Perth's total as 151 for 9, so the sources differ by one run on the home side's score. Both give the margin as 51 runs.

Wolvaardt anchors a big total

Wolvaardt was the centrepiece of the Strikers innings, finishing unbeaten on 83 from 45 balls. Emma de Broughe made 51 and Maddy Penna struck 44 from 19 balls.

Adelaide were steady early and then accelerated sharply. They were 3-106 after 14 overs and added 96 from the last six. That included a WBBL-record 40 runs in the Power Surge, with the last four overs going for 22, 18, 11 and 23, according to Cricket-Australia.

Chloe Ainsworth, who took 1-23 from her four overs, was the only Scorcher to escape punishment.

Mushangwe wrecks the top order

The recalled Zimbabwean leg-spinner struck twice in her first over, removing Perth captain Beth Mooney for 7 and former skipper Sophie Devine for 0. Devine's dismissal, a low catch by Wolvaardt, was referred to the television umpire, who took several minutes to decide.

Mushangwe then bowled Katie Mack for 14, leaving her with 3-1 from seven balls. She was brought back when the Scorchers took the Power Surge in the 16th over and bowled Alana King for 12. Ainsworth, out for seven, was her fifth wicket.

Mikayla Friday (41) and Freya Kemp (28) offered the only significant resistance for Perth.

What it means

It was Perth's first defeat of the season. The sources do not give the WBBL table, so the effect on the standings is unclear, and they carry no post-match reaction or details of either side's next fixture.