WBBL round-up: Mooney plunders century, Gardner helps Sixers to third

Beth Mooney cracked her second WBBL century in a powerful Perth Scorchers display which proved far too much for the top-of-the-table Melbourne Renegades.

Mooney brought up her century off the penultimate ball of the innings from 62 deliveries with a thumping straight drive. She and Sophie Devine, who has also made a century this season, added a monstrous opening stand of 165 in 16.2 overs in the latest dominant performance between two of the powerhouse batters in the world. Scorchers' total of 194 was their highest in the WBBL and the sixth-highest of all time.

The pair brought up the hundred in the 10th over having produced the best powerplay of the season to date - 0 for 63 - with the duo level-pegging for much of their stand. Devine took consecutive sixes off Carly Leeson and there was time for her to reach three figures again before falling to Courtney Webb. As a reminder that there are different ways to go about an innings, Mooney's hundred did not include a six. For Renegades only Sophie Molineux conceded less than eight an over.

The run chase was never on. Offspinner Lilly Mills, who is having a fine tournament, removed the openers in the space of three deliveries and Alana King claimed Harmanpreet Kaur although the task would have been beyond even her capabilities. Mills claimed two more scalps in four deliveries in the 16th over.

Ellyse Perry fell just short of a birthday half-century but it mattered little as Sydney Sixers powered their way to a 31-run WBBL victory over the Hobart Hurricanes at the WACA Ground.

Perry, who turned 31 on Wednesday, continued her strong form with the bat by posting 47 off 52 balls, while player-of-the-match Ashleigh Gardner recorded her highest score of the season to lead the Sixers to 4 for 141.

In reply, the Hurricanes were restricted to 7-110, with opener Rachel Priest (27 off 29 balls) and Molly Strano (22no off 16 balls) the only two batters to get going. Sixers star Nicole Bolton snared 2 for 28 with the ball and also took a spectacular diving catch to remove Priest. Maitlan Brown was crucial with 2 for 15 off her four overs.

The Sixers' fourth win of the season moves them into equal second spot on the ladder, while Hurricanes have now lost three on the trot and have just two wins from nine games.

The day started splendidly for Hobart after they snared the prized scalp of Sixers star Alyssa Healy for one in the first over. Gardner and Perry struggled to get into the groove early as the Sixers crawled to 1-5 after three overs. Perry in particular found the going tough, posting just 3 off her first 12 balls. But she and Gardner soon flourished, with the pair combining for a 103-run stand that helped set up a competitive total. Bolton (18 not out off nine balls) added the late fireworks.