InMobi

Match Report:

Scorecard

Scorchers claim first WBBL title in home triumph

Inaugural WBBL success came in front of ecstatic home fans at Optus Stadium, after a complete performance saw them defend 146

South African allrounder Marizanne Kapp has starred with bat and ball to help lift the Perth Scorchers to a 12-run victory over the Adelaide Strikers in the Weber WBBL Final.

In reply to the Scorchers' 5-146, the Strikers were restricted to 2-16 in the six-over powerplay before finishing at 6-134.

Kapp, who had been sick all week, scored an unbeaten 31 off 23 balls to help lift the Scorchers to a solid total, but her greatest contribution was with the ball.

The 31-year-old's first two overs in the powerplay cost just two runs in a display that put the heat on the Strikers straight away.

The moment the Scorchers sealed their maiden title

Kapp finished with 1-25 from her four overs, with those figures including a maiden against her wife and Strikers opener Dane van Niekerk (six off 13 balls).

The Scorchers had played in two finals previously - both of which ended in losses to a Sydney Sixers outfit that contained Kapp in their side.

But this time the Scorchers had Kapp on their team, and it proved to be their lucky charm.

The 15,511 crowd on hand for the decider was the highest ever attendance for a standalone WBBL match.

Star Scorchers openers Sophie Devine (35 off 33 balls) and Beth Mooney (19 off 25 balls) struggled to get going after the home side was sent in, with the duo never really finding their groove despite sharing a 52-run opening stand.

Mooney was the first to fall when she struck Tahlia McGrath to mid-off, while Devine's innings was brought to an end by a brilliant direct hit from van Niekerk.

Devine caught short after van Nierkerk's sharp work

Kapp made a nervy start to her innings and failed to score off her first four balls, but the South African soon found her groove.

Her nerves would have been on edge in the 16th over when she was forced to face up to her wife van Niekerk.

Van Niekerk had been dismissed twice by Kapp this season, but she couldn't get her revenge.

Kapp's stunning early work with the ball left the Strikers shell shocked, and they were in disarray when star opener Katie Mack (six off 13 balls) was dismissed by Devine in the fifth over.

Strikers captain McGrath (36 off 29 balls) and Laura Wolvaardt (25 of 28 balls) combined for a 65-run stand to give their side a slight chance, but in the end, the task was too great.

Adelaide needed 36 runs off the final three overs, and they fell well short despite the best efforts of Madeline Penna (30no off 21 balls).

The fourth-placed Strikers did well just to reach the decider given they had to win two elimination finals in the space of two days against the third-placed Heat and second-placed Renegades.

In contrast, Perth earned direct entry into the decider after finishing on top of the ladder.