Scorchers vs Thunder WBBL|12: Scorchers Win by 4 Wkts, 5 From 5
Published on November 11, 2026
Summary Overview: Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets with nine balls to spare in WBBL|12 at the WACA Ground to stay unbeaten. Sophie Devine (37) and Katie Mack (31) set up the chase of 160, and Chloe Piparo and Chloe Ainsworth finished it, after Heather Knight's 71 and Anika Learoyd's 53 for the Thunder.
Who won? Perth Scorchers, by 4 wickets with nine balls to spare at the WACA Ground, Perth. The Thunder made 159 for 5, and the Scorchers reached 160 for 6 in 18.3 overs.
Who starred? Captain Sophie Devine made 37 off 32 and took 1 for 23, and Katie Mack hit five fours in 31 off 27. Chloe Piparo (20 not out) and Chloe Ainsworth (15 not out off 8) added an unbroken 27 to finish the chase.
What about the Thunder? Heather Knight hit 12 fours in 71 off 46, and Anika Learoyd made 53 off 44. The pair added 128 for the third wicket, but the Thunder lost three wickets in their last 14 balls.
What does it mean? The Scorchers have won all five of their games and stay top of the table. The Thunder have lost three in a row.
Match Report: The Scorchers Stay Perfect
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by wickets when it chases down the target; "4 wickets" means the Scorchers lost six. In the WBBL, the first four overs are the powerplay, when only two fielders are allowed outside the inner circle.
Thunder's Innings: Knight and Learoyd Rebuild
Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield won the toss and chose to bat, but Chloe Ainsworth had Georgia Voll caught behind for 0 in the first over, and Fatima Sana had Litchfield (13) caught by Freya Kemp. The Thunder were 19 for 2 after the powerplay.
Heather Knight and Anika Learoyd then took charge, adding 128 off 84 balls. Knight hit 12 fours in 71 off 46, and Learoyd hit five fours and a six in 53 off 44. But Alana King bowled Knight at 146 for 3, and Sophie Devine bowled Learoyd two balls later. Amy Edgar removed Laura Harris (3), and the Thunder finished on 159 for 5.
Scorchers' Chase: Devine Sets It Up
Ines McKeon, who came into the side for Beth Mooney, hit a six before Sam Bates trapped her lbw in the first over. But Katie Mack and captain Sophie Devine added 79 off 56 balls, and the Scorchers were 86 for 1 in the 10th over.
The Thunder fought back. Nadine de Klerk bowled Devine for 37, Jemma Barsby caught and bowled Mack for 31, and Lauren Bell had Kemp (10) caught by Harris. Mikayla Hinkley hit 24 off 16 before de Klerk ran her out, and Hannah Darlington bowled Sana for 0. At 133 for 6 after 15.3 overs, the Scorchers needed 27 from 27 balls.
Chloe Piparo and Chloe Ainsworth stayed calm. They added an unbroken 27 off 18 balls, with Ainsworth hitting two fours in 15 not out off 8, and the Scorchers won with nine balls to spare.
Turning Point: The Thunder's Late Collapse
At 146 for 2 in the 18th over, with Knight and Learoyd set, the Thunder were looking for a big finish. They lost Knight, Learoyd and Harris in 11 balls and added only 13 runs in their last 13 balls, leaving the Scorchers a target they could chase.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Sophie Devine (c) | Perth Scorchers | 37 (32), 5 fours, 1 six, and 1 for 23 (3 overs) |
| Katie Mack | Perth Scorchers | 31 (27), 5 fours |
| Mikayla Hinkley (wk) | Perth Scorchers | 24 (16), 3 fours, 1 six, plus a catch |
| Chloe Piparo | Perth Scorchers | 20* (16), 2 fours |
| Chloe Ainsworth | Perth Scorchers | 15* (8), 2 fours, and 1 for 22 (3 overs) |
| Fatima Sana | Perth Scorchers | 1 for 26 (4 overs) |
| Heather Knight | Sydney Thunder | 71 (46), 12 fours |
| Anika Learoyd | Sydney Thunder | 53 (44), 5 fours, 1 six |
| Nadine de Klerk | Sydney Thunder | 1 for 30 (4 overs, 1 maiden), plus a run-out |
| Jemma Barsby | Sydney Thunder | 1 for 19 (2 overs) |
* not out
How the Game Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Thunder's poor start | 18 for 2 (3.5 overs) |
| Knight and Learoyd stand | 128 off 84 balls for the 3rd wicket |
| Late wickets | 146 for 2 to 156 for 5 (19.3 overs) |
| Thunder total | 159 for 5 (20 overs) |
| Mack and Devine stand | 79 off 56 balls for the 2nd wicket |
| Scorchers wobble | 86 for 1 to 133 for 6 (15.3 overs) |
| Piparo and Ainsworth stand | 27* off 18 balls |
| Scorchers win | 160 for 6 (18.3 overs) |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 4 overs |
| Sydney Thunder | 19 for 2 |
| Perth Scorchers | 30 for 1 |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| Perth Scorchers | Katie Mack, Ines McKeon, Sophie Devine (c), Freya Kemp, Mikayla Hinkley (wk), Chloe Piparo, Fatima Sana, Chloe Ainsworth, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar |
| Sydney Thunder | Phoebe Litchfield (c), Georgia Voll, Anika Learoyd, Heather Knight, Nadine de Klerk, Tahlia Wilson (wk), Laura Harris, Jemma Barsby, Hannah Darlington, Lauren Bell, Sam Bates |
Changes: the Scorchers brought in Ines McKeon for Beth Mooney, with Sophie Devine captaining the side and Mikayla Hinkley keeping wicket. The Thunder were unchanged.
WBBL|12 Table After Match 18
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate |
| Perth Scorchers | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | +1.469 |
| Sydney Sixers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | +1.316 |
| Sydney Thunder | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | +0.215 |
| Brisbane Heat | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.020 |
| Adelaide Strikers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.350 |
| Melbourne Renegades | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.555 |
| Melbourne Stars | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -0.611 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -1.250 |
Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score. A team that is bowled out is counted as having faced its full overs. In a rain-reduced match, the team batting first is credited with one run less than the DLS target for net run rate purposes.
What's Next
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Local | IST | ET |
| 19 | Thu, Nov 12 | Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval, Melbourne | 3:40 PM AEDT | 10:10 AM | 11:40 PM (Wed) |
| 20 | Thu, Nov 12 | Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers | Junction Oval, Melbourne | 7:10 PM AEDT | 1:40 PM | 3:10 AM |
| 21 | Sat, Nov 14 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 3:40 PM AEDT | 10:10 AM | 11:40 PM (Fri) |
| 22 | Sat, Nov 14 | Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers | WACA Ground, Perth | 4:10 PM AWST | 1:40 PM | 3:10 AM |
| 24 | Mon, Nov 16 | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars | Drummoyne Oval, Sydney | 7:10 PM AEDT | 1:40 PM | 3:10 AM |
For Pakistan, subtract 30 minutes from the IST times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder?
- Perth Scorchers, by 4 wickets with nine balls to spare.
Are the Perth Scorchers unbeaten?
- Yes. They have won all five of their games and are top of the table.
Who captained the Scorchers?
- Sophie Devine, with Beth Mooney not in the XI.
How many did Heather Knight score?
- 71 off 46 balls, with 12 fours.
When do the Scorchers play next?
- Saturday, November 14, against the Adelaide Strikers at the WACA Ground, Perth.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 WBBL 2026 Schedule: Full WBBL|12 Fixtures, Venues and Times