Scorchers finish season on a high


Australian captain Meg Lanning maintained her rare form as Perth Scorchers ended their Rebel Women’s Big Bash League campaign on a high, smashing the Adelaide Strikers by 10 wickets.

Lanning and England's Amy Jones both thumped 70 not out to make short work of the Strikers' score of 6-140 on Sunday.

They sailed past the target with 20 balls to spare to help Perth split the weekend's double header at Albrecht Oval in Alice Springs at one win apiece.

Despite Elyse Villani being sidelined again through injury, Lanning and Jones ensured there would be no repeat of Saturday's collapse which put the Scorchers, who finished in fifth spot with a 7-7 record, out of finals contention.

Lanning was the aggressor early in compiling her fifth 70-plus score from her past seven knocks while player-of-the-match Jones scored her first half century in 12 innings.

"It was great to bat with her (Lanning)," said Jones. "I've been on the receiving end of some of her runs against us (at international level) so it was brilliant to watch it from the other end."

Adelaide’s Megan Schutt was tidy (0-21 off four overs) but most Adelaide bowlers were smacked around.

With the bat, the Strikers were held to 47 off their first 10 overs before thumping 93 off the next 10, thanks largely to Amanda-Jade Wellington, who crunched a career-best undefeated 30 off 12 balls.

Captain Suzie Bates top-scored with 39 but the middle order was well contained by a disciplined Scorchers attack, led by Emma King (2-19) and Hayley Jensen (2-29).

The win meant Scorchers veteran Lauren Ebsary ended her career on a winning note, with today’s victory the 35-year-olds last match, fittingly against her former side the Strikers.