AAP
Published: Nov 14, 2026, 12:59 PM (7 mins ago)
Adelaide Strikers 202 for 4 (Wolvaardt 83*, de Broughe 51, Penna 44) beat Perth Scorchers (Friday 41, Mushangwe 5-11) by 51 runs
Legspinner Anesu Mushangwe's five-wicket haul and Adelaide Strikers' highest-ever score saw Perth Scorchers' unbeaten start to the WBBL season come to an emphatic end with a 51-run loss.
South African star Laura Wolvaardt guided Strikers to an imposing 202 for 4 at the WACA Ground in Perth, before Scorchers were restricted to 151 for 9 in reply, thanks chiefly to Mushangwe, who captured a career-best 5 for 11 off four overs.
Mikayla Friday (41) and Freya Kemp (28) produced cameos after Scorchers' top order was wrecked by Mushangwe.
Recalled to the Strikers side, Mushangwe struck two enormous blows in her first over, removing captain Beth Mooney and former skipper Sophie Devine, the latter with a low catch from Wolvaardt agonised over for several minutes by the television umpire.
When Mushwagne bowled Katie Mack with a superb slider, she had 3 for 1 from seven balls. Mushwagne was re-introduced as Scorchers took the power surge in the 16th over and duly bowled Alana King, before Chloe Ainsworth was her fifth victim.
Earlier, Wolvaardt, Emma de Broughe and Madeline Penna paced an impressive batting display from Strikers, who were steady early before exploding late.
The visitors were on target for around 150-160 when they were 106 for 3 after 14, before clubbing 96 off the last six. That included a WBBL-record 40-run power surge, the last four overs going for 22, 18, 11 and 23.
Ainsworth (4-0-23-1) was the only Scorchers bowler to escape the wrath of the rampant Wolvaardt and Penna.