Scorchers pummel wasteful 'Gades as skippers new and old star

Perth Scorchers have launched their WBBL campaign with an exclamation mark, hammering the winless Melbourne Renegades by nine wickets at the WACA Ground with thanks to new skipper Beth Mooney and her predecessor, Sophie Devine.

The Renegades dug their way out of a big hole at 4-20 to reach 6-136, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Scorchers from strolling to victory with 39 balls to spare.

The 'Gades suffered a top-order collapse, losing 4-5 in the space of 14 deliveries. Seamer Chloe Ainsworth (2-22) and Pakistan allrounder Fatima Sana (2-27), impressing in her WBBL debut, were the power-play destroyers for Perth.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews (7), Australian skipper Sophie Molineux (1) off the bowling of Sana and Courtney Webb (6) succumbed within eight balls of each other, before legspinner Alana King dismissed Tess Flintoff (2) with her first delivery.

There was some early concern for King after she was struck in the wrist while bowling, however continued through the game without complaint following brief treatment. It was the same arm that was also injured last year in a similar incident, albeit affecting her spinning finger.

Georgia Wareham (62) and wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum (48) rescued the visitors from complete humiliation, combining for a club-record fifth-wicket partnership of 109.

The Scorchers lost Katie Mack (9) early in the chase, but captain Beth Mooney (58no) and former skipper Sophie Devine (47no) were completely untroubled.

Newly appointed skipper Mooney survived an early scare after she was deemed to have not hit a ball that went down leg side, despite the strong reaction from 'keeper Faltum and bowler Milly Illingworth.

The Renegades struggled to find their radar from that point on, with a series of close calls, mounting frustration and plethora of extras (24) fast-tracking the defeat.

Mooney and Devine once again were immovable at the crease despite the 'Gades best efforts, combining for their 11th 100-plus run stand in Scorchers orange.

Devine applied the finishing touches when she heaved Wareham for back-to-back sixes to raise victory.

The Scorchers will face Melbourne Stars, who suffered a defeat earlier today at the hands of the Adelaide Strikers, under lights at Junction Oval on Monday. Meanwhile, the Renegades won't feature until Wednesday when they take on the Hobart Hurricanes in the Apple Isle.

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Perth Scorchers Women SCO	1	1	0	0	0	0	3.422	0	0	0	2
2 Sydney Thunder Women THU	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.335	0	0	0	2
3 Adelaide Strikers Women STR	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.05	0	0	0	2
4 Sydney Sixers Women SIX	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.15	0	0	0	2
5 Melbourne Stars Women STA	2	1	1	0	0	0	-0.075	0	0	0	2
6 Brisbane Heat Women HEA	1	0	1	0	0	0	-0.15	0	0	0	0
7 Hobart Hurricanes Women HUR	1	0	1	0	0	0	-0.9	0	0	0	0
8 Melbourne Renegades Women REN	2	0	2	0	0	0	-2.265	0	0	0	0

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points