Perth Scorchers brush aside Sydney Thunder to make winning start to title defence

The Scorchers restricted Sydney Thunder to 88 for 8, with Lilly Mills, Marizanne Kapp and Alana King taking two wickets apiece

Sydney: Sydney Thunder 88-8, Perth Scorchers 89-1 - Perth Scorchers won by nine wickets

Scorecard

Perth Scorchers produced a dominant performance to defeat Sydney Thunder by nine wickets and get their title defence off to a winning start.

Thunder were in trouble early on, slipping to 17 for 4 inside the opening six overs as Marizanne Kapp, Lilly Mills and Alana King wreaked havoc with the ball, and never recovered.

Kapp (2 for 15) and Mills (2 for 13) removed Tammy Beaumont and Phoebe Litchfield, respectively, before King ran out Rachel Haynes inside the four-over powerplay. King then bowled Chloe Tryon for seven.

Tahlia Wilson (28 off 35) and Anika Learoyd (26 off 40) kept the Scorchers at bay, putting on a 54 runs for the fifth wicket but couldn't find any fluidity with the bat.

^{Maddy Green and Sophie Devine wrapped up the win with over five overs to spare [Mark Evans/Getty Images]}

Mills, King and Kapp each picked up another wicket while Sophie Devine bowled Sammy-Jo Johnson as Thunder closed on 88 for 8.

The chase was never in doubt, despite Beth Mooney departing for 19. Captain Devine scored 44 not out off 42 at the top of the order and Scorchers wrapped up the win in the 15th over, Maddy Green (15 off 19) running the match-winning single.

Johnson (0 for 12) and Lea Tahuhu (0 for 17) produced economical bowling performances while Tryon was the only wicket-taker for Thunder.