The Sydney Sixers are off the mark in their Women's Big Bash League title defence after an unbeaten century from skipper Ellyse Perry guided them to a six-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers.
In a rematch of last season's final, the Sixers were set a target of 168 to win on Friday night North Sydney Oval – the venue where Perry produced a mesmerising 213 not out in last year's Ashes Test.
Good night: Ellyse Perry, right, and Dane Van Niekerk embrace after Perry hit a boundary to win and bring up her century.Credit:AAP
Perry picked up right where she left off, scoring 102 off 59 balls as she relished the decidedly batting-friendly conditions at the picturesque ground.
"I genuinely think it's the best ground for women's cricket in the country," Perry told the Herald. "It'd be really nice to almost make it our official home, I suppose, because it always produces such great games of cricket.
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"Tonight was no different – it was such a competitive and entertaining match, so it's wonderful playing here."
Perry brought up her century with the winning runs, a brilliant four down the ground, as the Sixers reached the required total with eight balls to spare. It was one of 14 boundaries in her innings while she also tonked two maximums.
I genuinely think it's the best ground for women's cricket in the country.
Ellyse Perry
"That was very kind of Dane [van Niekerk] to nudge a single and put me on strike but more than anything, it's so nice to get a win," Perry said.
The Sixers have won the last two WBBL crowns and made the final of the inaugural tournament but opened the new campaign with a surprise defeat to the Melbourne Stars last weekend.
The manner of this result should restore some confidence in their star-studded side as they prepare to back up on Saturday night for a derby clash with the Sydney Thunder at the same venue.
"It doesn't stop and I think that's probably a good thing," Perry said. "We always talk about momentum in T20 cricket so to have it now, hopefully we can carry that over.
"I think there's some looseness in our game at the moment that needs to be fixed, especially around our fielding and some of our bowling plans, but it's very pleasing when you find a way to win.
"Saturday night, North Sydney Oval – it's a pretty amazing place to play."
Sydney's run chase got off to a disastrous start, with Alyssa Healy clean-bowled for just two runs in the second over of their innings.
Healy charged down the wicket but completely misjudged a straight ball from Nicole Bolton, piling more responsibility on the shoulders of fellow opener Perry and Ashleigh Gardner to deliver the goods.
For a while, it looked like they they would do it on their own. The pair forged a 80-run stand and appeared to be grinding the Scorchers into submission until Heather Graham slipped through Gardner's defences. Graham sent down almost the exact same delivery next ball to dismiss Erin Burns for a golden duck.
In the next over, Sara McGlashan nicked Taneale Peschel behind and all of a sudden, the Sixers were 4-101 and in serious danger.
Scorching form: Ellyse Perry drives on her way to a century against Perth.Credit:AAP
But Perry's confident and assured strokeplay dragged them back from the brink of disaster, aided by a handy contribution from van Niekerk (32 not out).
The Scorchers suffered a huge pre-match blow with their skipper and star Meg Lanning not participating in the warm-up.
Lanning suffered a back injury in last weekend's win over the Hobart Hurricanes and was unable to shake it off in time. Elyse Villani took over as captain in her absence. Whether Lanning will be right to play on Saturday against the Brisbane Heat remains to be seen.
But it didn't seem to affect Perth too badly. They won the toss, elected to bat and immediately set about taking advantage of the handy breeze, flat deck and short boundaries in North Sydney.
Villani (32) and English international Amy Jones (57) made a rip-snorting start, guiding the visitors past 100 at the halfway point of their innings.
Jones, who played for the Sixers last season but was making her debut for the Scorchers on Friday night, was in a particularly ruthless mood. She smashed eight boundaries and two sixes before she was bowled out with the second ball of van Niekerk's spell.
The Scorchers still looked on course for a huge score at 2-109 with eight overs to go. But they lost their next four wickets for just 38 runs and, subsequently, all of their momentum as well.
Van Niekerk was at the heart of the Sixers' stirring fightback, finishing with 3-32, while Sara McGlashan pounced with two critical and clinical run outs.
The removal of Nicole Bolton (40), who was caught at deep mid-wicket, took out Perth's last batter of note and they limped to the line from there.
Vince is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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