Sophie Devine delivered a match-winning all-round performance as Perth Scorchers defeated Melbourne Stars by six wickets in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 at North Sydney Oval on Sunday, November 8.
The New Zealand all-rounder claimed 2 for 18 before smashing 55 from just 24 deliveries, helping the Scorchers chase down a target of 137 in 15 overs. The victory extended Perth’s unbeaten start to four matches and kept them at the top of the standings, ahead of Sydney Sixers on net run rate.
Melbourne Stars, meanwhile, suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and remained on one win from five matches.
Devine’s outstanding performance earned her the Player of the Match award as Perth continued their impressive start to the tournament.
Sophie Devine and Amy Edgar Restrict Melbourne Stars to 136/6
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Melbourne Stars made a steady start through captain Meg Lanning and Rhys McKenna. The opening pair added 38 runs before Pakistan all-rounder Fatima Sana dismissed McKenna for 12 from 18 deliveries in the seventh over.
Lanning held the innings together with a composed 56 off 46 balls, but the Stars struggled to build partnerships as Perth’s bowlers maintained pressure through the middle overs.
Devine was particularly effective, removing Annabel Sutherland, who scored 14 from nine balls, before dismissing Lanning in the 18th over. She finished with 2 for 18 from three overs, while Amy Edgar also claimed two wickets, conceding 33 runs.
Sana returned figures of 1 for 33 from four overs, while Alana King delivered an economical spell of 0 for 12 from her four overs. King’s disciplined bowling helped restrict Melbourne’s scoring opportunities and maintained pressure on the batters throughout the middle overs.
The Stars were 105 for 6 during the 18th over before Georgia Prestwidge and Charlie Dean added an unbeaten 31 runs for the seventh wicket.
Prestwidge provided late acceleration with 23 not out from 11 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Dean remained unbeaten on 10 from 14 deliveries. Their partnership lifted Melbourne to 136 for 6 from 20 overs, giving the bowlers a total to defend.
Despite Lanning’s half-century and Prestwidge’s late contribution, the Stars struggled to establish sustained momentum against a disciplined Perth bowling attack.
Devine Smashes 21-Ball Fifty in Perth Scorchers Chase
Perth lost Katie Mack in the third over when Sophie Day provided Melbourne’s first breakthrough. However, Devine immediately shifted the momentum with an aggressive innings alongside captain Beth Mooney.
The pair added 72 runs for the second wicket, with Devine attacking the Stars’ bowling and reaching her half-century in just 21 deliveries, her fastest fifty in WBBL cricket.
She eventually fell to Day in the eighth over after scoring 55 from 24 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. Her innings featured a strike rate of 229.17 and put Perth firmly in control of the chase.
Devine’s aggressive batting transformed the contest, allowing the Scorchers to score rapidly during the opening eight overs and significantly reduce the required run rate.
Mooney contributed 28 from 24 balls before being dismissed in the 11th over. Freya Kemp also departed for two, but Melbourne’s wickets came too late to seriously threaten Perth’s position.
Mikayla Friday and Chloe Piparo completed the chase with an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership worth 28 runs. Friday finished on 24 not out from 19 deliveries, while Piparo contributed 14 not out from 16 balls.
Perth reached 137 for 4 in exactly 15 overs, securing a six-wicket victory with 30 deliveries remaining.
Day was Melbourne’s most successful bowler with 2 for 34 from four overs, while Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland took one wicket each.
Although the Stars managed to dismiss four Perth batters, Devine’s early acceleration ensured that the Scorchers remained comfortably ahead throughout the closing stages of the chase.
Devine Responds to Difficult Previous Innings
Devine’s performance represented a significant turnaround after a challenging outing against Sydney Thunder three days earlier.
In that match, she struggled to find her timing and retired herself out after scoring 42 from 39 balls. Against Melbourne Stars, she adopted a far more aggressive approach, reaching her half-century in only 21 deliveries.
Her contributions with both bat and ball earned her the Player of the Match award and strengthened her position among the tournament’s leading performers.
Following the Stars match, Devine had taken nine wickets from four games, making her the competition’s leading wicket-taker at that stage.
She had also accumulated 155 runs across her first four appearances, underlining her importance to Perth’s unbeaten start.
Her performance against Melbourne was particularly valuable because she contributed in both innings. With the ball, she removed two important batters and helped prevent the Stars from building a larger total. With the bat, she provided the attacking momentum that allowed Perth to complete the chase with five overs remaining.
Devine’s ability to influence matches in different roles has made her one of Perth’s most important players during the opening stages of the season.
Perth Scorchers Move Top of WBBL 2026 Standings
Perth’s fourth consecutive victory took them to eight points from four matches, level with Sydney Sixers but ahead on net run rate.
Both teams remained unbeaten after their opening four fixtures, establishing themselves as the early frontrunners in the competition.
Perth’s net run rate stood at +1.659 following the victory, reflecting the strength of their performances during the opening stages of the tournament.
For Melbourne Stars, the defeat continued a difficult start to the season. Despite Lanning’s half-century and a late contribution from the lower order, the Stars were unable to contain Perth’s powerful batting lineup.
With only one victory from their opening five matches, Melbourne faced the challenge of recovering from four consecutive defeats.
The Stars were scheduled to face Brisbane Heat on November 12, offering another opportunity to improve their position in the standings.
Perth, meanwhile, could take confidence from another convincing performance built around Devine’s decisive contributions.
The Scorchers’ fourth successive victory also highlighted their ability to win matches through contributions from different players. While Devine dominated the contest, Edgar, King and Sana played important roles in restricting Melbourne’s total, and the middle order completed the chase without unnecessary risks.
Sophie Devine’s All-Round Display Highlights Perth’s Strength
Devine’s performance against Melbourne Stars demonstrated why she remains one of the most influential all-rounders in women’s T20 cricket.
Her bowling figures of 2 for 18 helped restrict the opposition to a manageable total, while her explosive 55 from 24 deliveries ensured Perth could approach the chase aggressively.
The 21-ball half-century was the defining moment of the contest, shifting the momentum firmly in Perth’s favour before the halfway stage of their innings.
The Scorchers also benefited from disciplined bowling contributions and a controlled finish from their middle order, demonstrating the balance within their squad.
For Melbourne Stars, Lanning’s 56 and Prestwidge’s late acceleration provided positives, but their total of 136 for 6 proved insufficient against Perth’s attacking lineup.
The six-wicket victory extended Perth’s winning streak to four matches and reinforced their position among the leading contenders in WBBL 2026.
With Devine contributing consistently in both disciplines, the Scorchers established a strong foundation for the remainder of the tournament.
