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Scorchers hope to snare Devine WBBL luck

3 minute read

Adelaide Strikers batting star Sophie Devine looms as the key player in Saturday's WBBL semi-final against Perth Scorchers in Brisbane.

SOPHIE DEVINE of the Strikers bats during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Adelaide Strikers at CitiPower Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
SOPHIE DEVINE of the Strikers bats during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Adelaide Strikers at CitiPower Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Perth Scorchers captain Meg Lanning is hoping the odds will finally go against Adelaide Strikers star Sophie Devine in their WBBL semi-final.

Devine was on Tuesday named the outstanding player of the competition this season, in which she scored a league-high 699 runs at the phenomenal average of 77.67 and took 16 wickets.

The 30-year-old looms as the key player in Saturday's last-four clash in Brisbane and the Scorchers are well aware they need to get her cheaply.

"Hopefully she is due for a low score," Lanning said.

"We have to try to stop her as much as we can. That will play a key role in the game."

The Scorchers were dealt a big blow when star English pair Amy Jones and Natalie Sciver were ruled out of the finals due to international duties.

Knowing this, Scorchers coach Lisa Keightley dropped the duo for the final game of the regular season and the result was an impressive 36-run win over Hobart Hurricanes.

Nicole Bolton replaced Jones at the top of the order and scored 44 off 46 balls, combining with Lanning (101 off 67 balls) for a match-winning 144-run stand.

Bolton is set to open again and Lanning is excited to see what her teammate will produce.

"She has opened a lot throughout her career and has been batting in the middle of the order for us, and probably hasn't had a great amount of opportunity just given where she's batting," Lanning said.

"So it's nice for her to step up into that (opener's) role and she's very comfortable there.

"I really enjoyed batting with her the other day, we've done that a lot.

"That gives the team a lot of confidence, Nicole is very confident as well.

"Hopefully we can repeat that."

Adelaide will be without Lauren Winfield due to her international duties with England.

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