Perth Scorchers extend unbeaten start to five games
Learoyd and Knight's fifties in vain as Sydney Thunder's 159 proves inadequate
Perth Scorchers secured their fifth win in five games in the WBBL 2026, chasing down 160 to beat Sydney Thunder by four wickets at the WACA Ground on Wednesday (November 11). Chloe Ainsworth played a key role in the victory, taking a wicket in her first over before contributing an unbeaten 15 off 8 deliveries. This included two boundaries off the otherwise frugal Lauren Bell, helping the Scorchers get over the line with nine balls to spare.
Ainsworth dismissed Georgia Voll early in the innings after the Thunder opted to bat. Captain Phoebe Litchfield also fell cheaply to Fatima Sana before Anika Learoyd and Heather Knight steadied the innings with a commanding third-wicket partnership.
The pair added 128 runs for the third wicket off 84 deliveries. Learoyd made 53 off 44 balls, while Knight was the more aggressive of the two, striking 71 off 46 deliveries with 12 boundaries. Their partnership lifted Thunder from 18 for 2 to 146 before both fell within two balls of each other as Thunder finished with 159 for 5.
Perth's reply got off to a brisk start, with Ines McKeon striking a first-ball six before falling LBW to Samantha Bates off the very next delivery. Katie Mack (31 off 27) and Sophie Devine (37 off 32) then steadied the chase with a 79-run stand for the second wicket. Their dismissals in quick succession, however, brought the Thunder back into the contest, with Perth losing 4 for 41 between the 10th and 15th overs.
Mikayla Hinkley provided an important contribution with a 16-ball 24 before Chloe Piparo took charge of the chase. Piparo remained unbeaten on 20, but Ainsworth provided the finishing impetus. Coming in at 133 for 6, she struck two boundaries in her unbeaten eight-ball 15, combining with Piparo for a 27-run stand to take Perth home in 18.3 overs.
Brief scores: Sydney Thunder 159/5 in 20 overs (Heather Knight 71, Anika Learoyd 53; Fatima Sana 1-26, Chloe Ainsworth 1-22) lost to Perth Scorchers 160/6 in 18.3 overs (Sophie Devine 37, Chloe Ainsworth 15*; Lauren Bell 1-26) by four wickets.
