Perth Scorchers defeated Melbourne Stars by 15 runs in Match 8 of the Women's Big Bash League 2026 at Junction Oval on Monday, November 2, with drizzle adding to the pressure of a low-scoring contest. Scorchers posted 124 for 9 before bowling the Stars out for 109, sealing a hard-fought victory.
Sophie Devine, the 37-year-old Scorchers skipper, was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with figures of 4 for 19 to earn the Player-of-the-Match award. Her left-arm spin proved difficult to handle
throughout the Stars innings, and she was central to restricting the home side well below their target. Devine set the tone with her 4 for 19, keeping the ball on a tight line throughout her spell.
Beth Mooney, who has assumed the long-serving captaincy role at Perth Scorchers alongside Devine, contributed 17 runs and also impressed behind the stumps. Mooney took four catches in total, including two leg-side catches standing up to the stumps, which helped dismantle the Stars batting lineup. Devine acknowledged her wicketkeeper's role after the match.
"Moons (Mooney) probably made me look better than I was. It was a whole team effort, which is what we really pride ourselves on," Devine said.
How did Devine and King bowl the Stars out for 109?
Alana King was equally effective, finishing with 3 for 17 and delivering a double-wicket maiden in the 18th over to accelerate the Stars' collapse. King's figures came in 18.1 overs of the innings context, and her spell proved decisive in the closing stages. Annabel Sutherland dismissed Devine for a duck during the Scorchers' batting innings, while England captain Charlie Dean was removed for 13, stumped by Mooney. Alana King herself contributed 18 runs with the bat, and in a notable moment, she hit a shot off her own foot while attempting a run.
For the Stars, Meg Lanning top-scored with 41, providing the only significant resistance in a total of 109 all out. The Stars' bowling attack shared the wickets across the Scorchers innings, with Charlie Dean taking 2 for 10, Maisy Gibson claiming 2 for 17 and Sophie Day finishing with 2 wickets as well. Despite those contributions, the Stars could not defend their modest total.
What role did Amy Jones play in the Scorchers' victory?
Amy Jones was outstanding with the gloves for Perth Scorchers, taking four catches in the match, including two leg-side catches while standing up to the stumps. Her work behind the wicket complemented the bowling efforts of Devine and King and helped reduce the Stars to 109 all out.
The Scorchers' innings of 124 for 9 was built across 36 and 70 and 76 run contributions at various stages, with the team reaching a competitive total despite losing wickets regularly. The Stars, chasing 125 under Melbourne drizzle, were bowled out for 109, falling 15 runs short. Devine's 4 for 19 and King's 3 for 17 between them accounted for seven of the ten Stars wickets, with the remaining three shared among the Scorchers attack.
