A three-wicket haul from skipper Kristen Beams has helped Erin Osborne’s Melbourne Stars return to the Rebel WBBL winners’ list with a four-wicket victory over the Perth Scorchers at Casey Fields.
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After falling to the same team by eight wickets on Saturday, the Stars turned the tables on their western rivals in Sunday’s encounter, with Beams starring in her second match back from injury to restrict Perth to 7-90 before Katie Mack helped guide the locals home in 15.3 overs.
Sending the Scorchers in to bat with rain threatening, the Stars made key early breakthroughs with Holly Ferling bowling English import Amy Jones (5) before the in-form Elyse Villani (5) was trapped in front the following over.
The situation became tougher when Heather Graham was dismissed without scoring in the fourth over, leaving Perth in trouble at 3-12.
Nicole Bolton and Lauren Ebsary attempted to steady the ship but the latter was tied down before being bowled by Stars skipper Beams, the first of three wickets the veteran leg-spinner would claim in only her second match back after nine months on the sidelines due to a ruptured achilles.
Bolton was the sole bright spot for the Scorchers in a tough innings, scoring 36 from 44, with the Stars restricting their rivals to 7-90, thanks to miserly efforts from bowlers Elwiss (2-10), Nicola Hancock (1-15) and Osborne (0-15), while Beams finished with 3-13 from her three overs.
The Scorchers struck an early blow with Angela Reakes falling for one in the second over, but a fast start from Lizelle Lee (26 from 19) put the Stars on track, before Mack picked up where she left off with a 31-ball 33.
Perth now travel to Hobart where they’ll meet the Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Tuesday, while the Stars will next meet the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Wednesday.
