Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Thunder by four wickets at the WACA Ground on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, to extend their unbeaten start to the Women's Big Bash League season to five wins from five. Chasing 160, Perth reached 160 for 6 in 18.3 overs, finishing the match with nine balls to spare.

The win keeps the Scorchers at the top of the WBBL|12 standings with 10 points. Sydney Thunder, who had posted 159 for 5 from their 20 overs, slipped to two wins and three defeats from five matches.

Knight and Learoyd rescue Thunder

Sydney Thunder chose to bat and made a poor start, slipping to 18 for 2 inside the first four overs. Heather Knight and Anika Learoyd then rebuilt the innings with a 128-run partnership for the third wicket, lifting the visitors from trouble to a competitive total.

Knight scored 71 from 46 balls, striking 12 boundaries, while Learoyd made 53 from 44 balls, including five fours and a six. Both batters fell within two balls of each other late in the innings, and Thunder finished on 159 for 5.

Pakistan international Fatima Sana was the most economical of the Perth bowlers, taking 1 for 26 from four overs. Chloe Ainsworth took 1 for 22 from three overs, and spinner Alana King finished with 1 for 30 from four overs.

Devine and Mack steady the chase

Perth began the chase briskly. Ines McKeon hit a six from the first ball of the innings but was out leg before wicket to Samantha Bates from the next delivery. Katie Mack, with 31 from 27 balls, and Sophie Devine, with 37 from 32, then shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket and put the Scorchers in control at 86 for 1 in the 10th over.

Thunder fought back when Devine was bowled by Nadine de Klerk and Mack was caught and bowled by Jemma Barsby in quick succession. Mikayla Hinkley added 24 from 16 balls, but a run-out and a second-ball duck for Fatima Sana left Perth on 133 for 6, still needing 27 runs from 27 balls.

Piparo and Ainsworth finish the job

Chloe Piparo and Chloe Ainsworth held their nerve in the closing overs. Piparo finished unbeaten on 20 from 16 balls, while Ainsworth struck an unbeaten 15 from eight deliveries, including two boundaries off Lauren Bell, as the pair added an unbroken 27 runs to take Perth home.

Perth were without captain Beth Mooney, who missed the match with quad tightness. Even without their captain, the Scorchers found contributions across the side, with no single batter dominating the chase. The Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers, on four wins from four, are the only unbeaten teams left in the competition.