Mooney, King Steer Perth Scorchers Into WBBL Final

The Perth Scorchers have secured their place in the WBBL final after a commanding semifinal performance powered by Beth Mooney’s brilliance with the bat and Alana King’s match-winning spell. They will face the Hobart Hurricanes in Saturday’s decider.

Mooney once again proved why she is one of the competition’s most consistent performers, smashing 76 — the second-highest score in WBBL finals history — to anchor the Scorchers’ innings. Her knock laid the foundation for a total that ultimately proved beyond the reach of the Sydney Sixers.

The Sixers’ chase faltered early, losing Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Sophia Dunkley in quick succession. A spirited 53-run stand between Ash Gardner and Amelia Kerr briefly revived hopes, but King’s superb control during the power surge turned the game firmly in the Scorchers’ favour. Conceding just six runs in a crucial over and dismissing Gardner, King tightened the screws before striking again to remove Maitlan Brown. She finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 17, leaving the Sixers needing an improbable 21 runs off the final over.

Mooney’s innings came after an early reprieve when Healy missed a stumping on 9. Although she saw little of the strike during the powerplay — facing just three balls — she accelerated after the dismissal of Katie Mack, who contributed a solid 40. Mooney reached her half-century from 27 deliveries and threatened a century before falling lbw to Brown in the 19th over.

Despite late hitting from Paige Scholfield, who struck Kerr for consecutive sixes, the Scorchers stumbled slightly, losing 5 for 21 in the closing stages.

In response, the Sixers began positively through Perry and Dunkley, though the required run rate continued to climb. Perry — coming off a century in the final regular-season game — holed out to King, and Healy’s difficult season continued when she was bowled by young quick Chloe Ainsworth after scoring just one. Healy ends her campaign with 119 runs at an average of 13.22.

Gardner and Kerr attempted another rebuild and opted for the power surge with 75 needed from 36 balls. A 16-run first over raised faint hopes of a comeback, but King’s precision in the next sealed the Sixers’ fate.

With Mooney in sublime touch and King delivering under pressure, the Scorchers head into Saturday’s final with momentum firmly on their side.