Perth Scorchers maintain unbeaten run with tight win over Melbourne Stars

The Scorchers made hard work of chasing 111, getting over the line in the final over with two wickets to spare

Perth: Melbourne Stars 110-9, Perth Scorchers 111-8 – Perth Scorchers won by two wickets

Scorecard

Perth Scorchers maintained their unbeaten run with a tight two-wicket win over Melbourne Stars.

The defending champions made hard work of chasing 111, getting over the line with two balls to spare.

Kim Garth struck twice for the Stars inside the powerplay, removing Sophie Devine and Chloe Piparo to reduce the Scorchers to 8 for 2, and wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the innings.

The departure of opener Beth Mooney, who top-scored for her side with 35 off 44, in the 13th appeared to be the killer blow, with Mathilda Carmichael and Alana King following her back to the dugout to leave the Scorchers 74 for 7 in the 16th.

^{Tess Flintoff rescued the Stars with the bat but her side couldn't defend 110 [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

However, a 33-run seventh-wicket stand between Amy Edgar and Piepa Cleary ensured the Scorchers maintained the pace with Sydney Sixers at the top of the table.

Sasha Moloney (1 for 15) and Garth (2 for 23) were particularly impressive with the ball while Tess Flintoff added the wicket of Maddy Green to her knock of 40 not out in the first innings.

Batting at No.9, Flintoff dominated a crucial 51-run eight-wicket partnership with Sophie Reid to rescue the Stars from 55 for 7 to a competitive total of 110 for 9.

Annabel Sutherland (31 off 31) was the only other player to pass 15 with the bat while five players, including openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Jemimah Rodrigues, were dismissed for ducks.

Wickets were shared around the bowling attack, with two apiece for Taneale Peschel, Lillly Mills and Cleary and one each for Devine and Marizanne Kapp. Peschel was the only bowler to concede more than a run-a-ball.