The Perth Scorchers could not have asked for a better start to their WBBL campaign. They hammered the Melbourne Renegades by nine wickets at the WACA on Saturday night — and it was not even close.
It did not start badly for the Renegades — it started terribly. They lost four wickets for five runs in the space of 14 balls. Chloe Ainsworth (2-22) and Pakistan allrounder Fatima Sana (2-27), on her WBBL debut, ripped through the top order in the powerplay. Sophie Molineux made just 1, Courtney Webb fell for 6, Hayley Matthews managed 7, and Alana King removed Tess Flintoff with her very first ball. At 4 for 20, the Renegades were staring at a disaster.
Then came the fightback. Georgia Wareham (62) and wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum (48) put on a club-record 109 for the fifth wicket — and did it the hard way. Wareham took 33 balls to reach fifty, then teed off with eight fours after the 15th over. They finished on 136 for 6, which felt like a lot from where they had been. It was not.
Katie Mack fell for 9, but after that it was a stroll. Captain Beth Mooney (58 not out) and former skipper Sophie Devine (47 not out) were never in trouble, sharing an unbeaten 100-plus stand — their 11th together in Scorchers orange. Mooney reached fifty off 35 balls, and Devine ended it in style, heaving Wareham for back-to-back sixes to seal the win with 39 balls to spare.
This was Mooney’s first game as Scorchers captain, and she led like she has done it for years. The Renegades are now two losses from two and rooted to the bottom of the table, while the Scorchers sit top on net run rate. Our preview had flagged this as a must-watch game — the result, though, was one-sided.
The Scorchers now head to Junction Oval to face the Melbourne Stars — who lost to the Strikers earlier today — on Monday night. The Renegades have a week to fix that top order before their next game. Cricket.com.au has the full match report.
Last verified: 31 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Scorchers vs Renegades in WBBL 12?
Perth Scorchers won by 9 wickets at the WACA. Melbourne Renegades: 136 for 6 (20 overs), Perth Scorchers: 138 for 1 (13.3 overs).
Who rescued the Renegades’ innings?
Georgia Wareham (62) and Nicole Faltum (48) added a club-record 109 for the fifth wicket after the Renegades had slumped to 4 for 20.