Five From Five and Barely Troubled: Can Laura Wolvaardt's Strikers Be the First to Stop Sophie Devine's Scorchers?

Some sides win by overpowering you, and some win by never letting the game get away from them. The Scorchers have done both. They chased 137 against the Renegades with 39 balls to spare, defended only 124 against the Stars, made 183 for 3 and won by 17 against the Thunder, then beat the Stars again with 30 balls left. On Wednesday at the WACA, chasing 160 against the Thunder, they lost six wickets and still got home with nine balls to spare. Five wins from five, ten points and a net run rate of +1.469. It is the record of a side that knows how to win.

Sophie Devine has been at the centre of all of it. She has 192 runs, 47 not out, 11, 42, 55 off 24 and 37, and ten wickets, including 4 for 19 against the Stars. Beth Mooney has 183 runs from four innings, but she did not play on Wednesday, and it is not yet clear whether she will be back. Her place at the top went to Isabel Mckeon. Without Mooney the batting looked a little shorter, and Chloe Piparo and Chloe Ainsworth had to finish the chase.

The bowling is the real strength. Alana King has nine wickets, with 4 for 35 against the Thunder and 3 for 17 against the Stars, and Ainsworth has been tight with the new ball. Fatima Sana, Amy Edgar and Lilly Mills give them depth. A possible XI, based on Wednesday's side: Katie Mack, Mckeon, Devine, Freya Kemp, Mikayla Hinkley, Piparo, Fatima Sana, Ainsworth, King, Mills, Edgar. If Mooney is fit, she would be expected to come straight back in, most likely for Mckeon.

The Strikers' season has gone win, loss, loss, win. They beat the Stars by 21 on the opening weekend, lost to the Heat by 14 when Knott made a century, and lost to the Renegades by 36. On Tuesday in Hobart they needed every ball to chase 139, and Sophie Ecclestone hit 9 off 3 at the end to get them there. Two wins from four puts them fifth, level on four points with the Heat, the Thunder and the Renegades.

The batting at the top has carried them. Laura Wolvaardt has 174 runs, with 70 against the Stars and 75 off 48 against the Heat. Madeline Penna has 130, including 68 off 45 against the Heat and 36 off 13 on the opening day. Maddy Bouchier made 54 against the Renegades, and Emma de Broughe 41 on Tuesday. When three of those four get going, the Strikers make 170 or more.

The bowling has been less sure. Ecclestone has four wickets, but she has gone for more than seven an over, which is not like her. Amanda-Jade Wellington took 3 for 28 against the Stars, but Megan Schutt has gone wicketless in her three games, and Eleanor Larosa went for 48 against the Heat. A possible XI, based on Tuesday's side: de Broughe, Bouchier, Wolvaardt, Tahlia McGrath (c), Penna, E Johnston, Wellington, Ecclestone, Larosa, Ella Wilson, Schutt. The Strikers may think about bringing back Bridget Patterson for more batting, but that is a guess.

Table as of Thursday morning, November 12; the Thursday and Friday games may change the positions.

The WACA has hosted two games this season, and the Scorchers chased in both: 138 for 1 in 13.3 overs against the Renegades, and 160 for 6 in 18.3 overs against the Thunder. The pitch has had its usual pace and carry. The 4:10 PM start means the second innings runs into the evening, and the Fremantle Doctor usually arrives in the afternoon, which may help the seamers bowling into it. A total of around 160 may be about par. Given their record, the Scorchers would probably be happy to chase again if they win the toss.

Wolvaardt against King. The Strikers' best innings this season have been built on Wolvaardt batting deep, and King's job in the middle overs has been to stop exactly that kind of batter from settling. If Wolvaardt can play King well, the Strikers can post a total the Scorchers have not yet had to chase. At the other end, Devine against Ecclestone is the other big one. Devine has been striking at well over a run a ball in her best innings, and if Ecclestone finds her best length again, the Strikers may finally have the answer to the league's most in-form player.