AAP
Published: Nov 5, 2026, 12:51 PM (15 mins ago)
Perth Scorchers 183 for 3 (Mooney 80, Devine 42 retired out, Barsby 1-18) beat Sydney Thunder 166 (Litchfield 34, King 4-35) by 17 runs
Sophie Devine's team-first decision to self-retire paved the way for Perth Scorchers to defeat the Sydney Thunder by 17 runs and jump to the top of the table.
Following Devine's exit, the Scorchers smashed 47 off the last three overs to post 3-183, before knocking over the Thunder for 166 in 19 overs.
While skipper Beth Mooney (80 not out) was all class en route to her competition record-extending 49th half-century, former captain Devine (42 off 39) was scratchy.
Held to 10 off her last 16 deliveries, the New Zealand veteran voluntarily ended her 39-ball vigil and England allrounder Freya Kemp made her way to the middle and crushed 30 off 10.
"Sometimes when you're batting, no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't come off, and Soph recognised that," Mooney said. "It's hard watching a six-hitter walk off the field, but Freya came out and absolutely whacked it."
Scorchers spearhead Chloe Ainsworth (2-24), for the second straight game, struck with the first delivery of the second innings, castling Georgia Voll, before removing the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield (34).
When Heather Knight (27) was stumped by Mooney off Devine (2-31), the match looked over.
The hosts gave themselves a sniff when Laura Harris (29) and Tahlia Wilson (25) blasted 35 off the two-over power-surge, before champion legspinner Alana King (4-35) was reintroduced and destroyed the lower order.