Elyse Villani fifty sets up Scorchers’ win

Perth Scorchers Women 155 for 5 (Villani 60, Strano 2-25) beat Melbourne Renegades Women 123 for 7 (Molineux 37, King 2-25, Graham 2-26) by 32 runs Scorecard

Under the safety of then Docklands Stadium – with rain hammering down in Melbourne – Perth Scorchers simply proved too powerful for the Melbourne Renegades, who sit bottom of the table with just one win having played half their matches.

The Scorchers’ triumph was built on a brilliant innings from Elyse Villani, with some fine late hitting from the lower-middle order setting up a steep target of 156 for the hosts.

All five of the Scorchers’ bowlers then impressed, with Katherine Brunt and Suzie Bates tight, and Emma King and Heather Graham picking up two wickets each. Only Anya Shrubsole gave away more than 26 from her four overs, but she picked up the vital wicket of Danni Wyatt, just as she looked set to purr.

Unusual opening

It’s not often Suzie Bates falls cheaply, and it’s even more seldom to see the New Zealander – the ICC ODI and T20I Player of the Year – out hit wicket. But that’s exactly what happened with the fifth ball of the match, as her New Zealand team-mate Lea Tahuhu dug in a swift bouncer, which Bates fended away behind square to the leg side, only to drag her bat around and fall hit wicket in the process.

You cannot keep a player of Bates’ quality down, however. Typically, it was Bates who put the brakes on the …

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