3 minute read

Ellyse Perry continued her Bradman-esque run with the bat to launch the Sixers to a thumping win over the Thunder.

Another Ellyse Perry masterclass catapulted the Sydney Sixers to a comprehensive 40-run win over cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder and to the top of the WBBL ladder.

Perry (81) started cautiously before launching late, steering the Sixers' 3-152 at Drummoyne Oval, which proved well beyond the Thunder, who staggered to 8-112 in reply.

A frustrated Perry barely celebrated her 17th WBBL half century, which took her 55 balls to compile, but her refusal to concede her wicket ultimately proved decisive.

She took 19 off Rene Farrell's 20th over before being run out off the last ball, by which time she took her season's tally to 432 runs at a phenomenal average of 108.

Perry is now just nine runs shy off the tournament's leading run-scorer, Brisbane gun Beth Mooney (441).

Alyssa Healy (40) was typically attacking, albeit starved of the strike at times during an 85-run opening stand with Perry, which the Thunder never recovered from.

Thunder import Rachael Priest (16) was aggressive early but her departure in the fifth over sparked a 4-15 collapse, bookended by Alex Blackwell being trapped lbw by the Sixers' best bowler Sarah Aley (2-16).

Player-of-the-match Perry snared a smart outfield catch to dismiss Nida Dar to make it 6-67 before an enterprising 36-run seventh-wicket union between youngster Hannah Darlington (23) and veteran Rene Farrell (23) gave the Thunder some respectability, but nowhere enough to threaten the result.