Mooney’s 105* Powers Scorchers to 23-Run Win.

Mooney’s 105* Powers Scorchers to 23-Run Win.

Mooney Masterclass Sets Up Scorchers Rout of Heat in WBBL Thriller.

Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 105 off 73 balls powered Perth Scorchers to 172/3, before Brisbane Heat’s fielding imploded and their chase folded for 149 in 19.1 overs.
                    PERTH — Beth Mooney produced a batting clinic of surgical precision and unflappable temperament to anchor Perth Scorchers to a commanding 23-run victory over Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League at the WACA on Thursday night. The left-hander’s third WBBL century — 105 not out from 73 deliveries — lifted Scorchers to 172 for 3, a total that proved insurmountable after Heat botched three straightforward chances and lost 6 for 26 in the back ten.

Mooney, named Player of the Match, became the first woman to score three WBBL hundreds at a single venue (the WACA), and her 100.09 Impact Rating topped Cricinfo’s MVP list by a street. “It’s always special to perform at home,” she said post-match, “but the bowlers made it look easy at the end.”

Heat’s reply never recovered from a catastrophic 19th over from Chloe Ainsworth, who claimed 2 for 34 and engineered two run-outs — including a direct-hit relay with Mooney — to seal the result. Brisbane’s chase ended in farce when Nicola Hancock was run out backing up too far off Alana King’s final ball, leaving tail-ender Lucy Hamilton stranded.

Mooney’s Masterclass: A Lesson in Tempo Control

Scorchers were inserted under lights on a fresh, bouncy WACA deck that offered early zip. Sophie Devine (16) and Katie Mack (31 off 29) provided the early thrust, but it was Mooney who dictated terms from ball one.

She rotated strike with robotic efficiency in the powerplay (39/1), then accelerated surgically: 50 off 43, 100 off 71. Her century arrived with a nudged single to midwicket off Jess Jonassen in the 20th over — the first time a Scorchers woman had carried her bat through a WBBL innings.

Mooney’s Innings in Phases

PhaseBallsRuns4s6sStrike RatePowerplay 20 22 2 0 110
Overs 7–15 33 48 5 1 145.45
Death (16–20) 20 35 3 1 175

Her wagon wheel was a study in 360-degree dominance: 42 runs square of the wicket on the off-side, 36 through midwicket, and 27 behind square on the leg-side. Only twice did she attempt the scoop — both for fours.

“Beth doesn’t hit boundaries; she places them,” said Scorchers coach Shelley Nitschke. “She knows the WACA like her backyard.”

Heat’s Field of Nightmares

Brisbane’s reply began brightly. Grace Harris muscled 46 off 30 (5×4, 2×6), and Chinelle Henry smoked 39 off 23, but the collapse was triggered by self-inflicted wounds.5.3 overs: Harris dropped at deep midwicket by Sianna Ginger off Amy Edgar (cost: 42 runs).

12.1 overs: Mooney shelled at long-on by Hancock off Alana King (cost: 61 runs).
17.4 overs: Jemimah Rodrigues stumped off Devine after a wayward throw missed — third life.

Heat’s fielding coach will replay those drops on loop. Mooney punished every reprieve, adding 83 runs after her first life.
Scorchers Bowling: Death by Strangulation

After a pricey powerplay (56/1), Scorchers’ bowlers applied the choke:

BowlerORWEconChloe Ainsworth 4 34 2 8.50
Sophie Devine 3 32 2 10.66
Amy Edgar 4 19 1 4.75
Alana King 4 28 1 7.00
Lilly Mills 3.1 22 1 6.98

Edgar’s 19/1 included 14 dots — the most by any bowler in the match. Ainsworth’s 19th over was carnage:18.4: Sianna Ginger run out (Mooney → Ainsworth direct hit)
18.5: Dot
18.6: Dot
19.1: Hancock run out backing up (King deflection)

Heat needed 25 off the final over; they managed one run and a wicket.
Turning Point: The 15th Over

At 98/2 after 14, Heat were cruising (RRR: 7.5). Then Devine returned:14.1: Harris caught at deep square (46)
14.3: Henry stumped (39)

Two blows, 26 balls, game over.
Stats That Tell the Story

MetricScorchersHeatDot balls faced 37 51
Boundaries 19 17
50+ partnerships 2 1
Run-outs 0 3
Catches dropped 1 3

Mooney’s 105* is the highest score by a Scorchers woman at the WACA, surpassing Ellyse Villani’s 84* in 2017.

What the Coaches Said

Shelley Nitschke (Scorchers): “Beth’s innings was a masterclass in pacing. The bowlers then executed under pressure — Chloe’s composure at the death was outstanding.”

Johan Botha (Heat): “We let ourselves down in the field. Three drops, three run-outs — that’s not WBBL standard. Grace and Chinelle fought, but we can’t keep gifting lives to players of Beth’s class.”

Player of the Match: Beth Mooney

MVP Top 5 (Cricinfo Impact)Beth Mooney – 100.09
Grace Harris – 67.97
Chinelle Henry – 52.09
Lucy Hamilton – 48.58
Amy Edgar – 32.7
Where This Leaves the Teams

Scorchers (4th → 3rd):6 wins, 4 losses, NRR +0.41
Two home games left; a playoff spot in sight.

Heat (2nd → 3rd):6 wins, 5 losses, NRR +0.28
First defeat in five; must win at least one of final two to secure top-four.
Next UpScorchers vs Sydney Sixers – Saturday, WACA
Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Sunday, Allan Border Field

Final Scorecard Perth Scorchers Women 172/3 (20) Beth Mooney 105* (73) Katie Mack 31 (29) Lucy Hamilton 2/28

Brisbane Heat Women 149 (19.1) Grace Harris 46 (30) Chinelle Henry 39 (23) Chloe Ainsworth 2/34 Sophie Devine 2/32

Scorchers win by 23 runs Player of the Match: Beth Mooney.