The Sydney Sixers notched their sixth consecutive win to stay on top of the ladder after beating the Perth Scorchers by four wickets at the SCG.
Impressive bowling from Lauren Smith helped the Sixers restrict the Perth Scorchers to 129 runs in the first innings. Smith claimed four wickets and collected her ninth wicket in her last three games.
The Sixers struck early with Sarah Aley dismissing dangerous opener Suzie Bates (7) thanks to a safe catch from Ashleigh Gardner. The wicket came off her first ball of the day.
With the Sixers rolling and the Scorchers frustrated, Marizanne Kapp knocked over Elyse Villani (7) with a beautiful full delivery that sent bails flying. To finish her day, Kapp collected two wickets including the dismissal of Anya Shrubsole.
Sixers captain Ellyse Perry was on song. Her first over was a maiden, she collected a wicket and had the moat economical bowling figures of 1/13, including 12 dots. Heather Graham and Lauren Ebsary made the score respectable for the Scorchers, top scoring with 37 runs each.
Perry got the important breakthrough and claimed the wicket of Graham. After that, it went south for the Scorchers with Lauren Smith producing a sublime bowling performance, finishing with figures of 4 for 23.
The Scorchers had set 130 for the Sixers to run down and Alyssa Healy provided. She scored 46 runs off 31 balls and lasted 10 overs at the crease. Her innings included a mammoth six and six fours. Suzie Bates got the first wicket for the Scorchers dismissing Healy after she tried to clear the boundary but a fielder was there to take the simple catch.
Next, it was Gardner’s turn at the crease and she could only make four runs. She was dismissed by Ebsary who produced a breathtaking direct hit.
Perry went on with her innings producing a batting masterclass of 38 runs which helped reduce the deficit. Heather Graham, however, got retribution, claiming the wicket of Perry after the Sixers' captain had Graham out in the first innings. It went down to the wire in the final three overs thanks to tidy bowling from the Scorchers.
Katherine Brunt claimed two wickets in a row in the 19th over that left the Sixers nervous. In the final over, the Sixers needed six runs off six balls for victory and Sarah Aley hit two consecutive well-timed boundaries to secure the well-earned glory for her team.
The next task for the Sixers will be at North Sydney Oval when they battle the Hobart Hurricanes on Friday
