Perth Scorchers Women opened their WBBL 2026 campaign in style at the WACA Ground, Perth, beating Melbourne Renegades Women by nine wickets in Match 5 on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Chasing a modest target of 137, the Scorchers raced to 138 for 1 in only 13.3 overs, finishing the job with 39 balls to spare. Captain Beth Mooney led from the front with an unbeaten fifty, while Sophie Devine finished the match in emphatic fashion, as the home side turned what had threatened to become a contest into a one-sided win. This result, previewed in our match preview, underlined exactly why Perth start as one of the teams to beat this season.
Match Story: Renegades Collapse, Then Fight Back
Perth won the toss and chose to field first, and that decision paid off immediately. The Renegades’ top order collapsed in the powerplay, slipping to 20 for 4 as Chloe Ainsworth and Fatima Sana struck with the new ball. Hayley Matthews, Sophie Molineux, Courtney Webb and Tess Flintoff all fell cheaply, and at the halfway mark the visitors were still only 45 for 4, staring at a very low total. The recovery came from Georgia Wareham and Nicole Faltum, who rebuilt with patience and then attacked late. Wareham reached her fifty off 33 balls and finished with 62 off 39 balls, including eight fours and a six, while Faltum made a steady 48 off 49 balls. Their fifth-wicket stand of 109 was a club record and lifted the Renegades to 136 for 6, including 55 runs in the last five overs. It gave their bowlers something to defend, but on this pitch and against this batting line-up, it was never going to be enough. In reply, Perth lost Katie Mack for 9 to Tayla Vlaeminck, but that was the only success the Renegades enjoyed. Mooney and Devine then took complete control, passing 50 in the sixth over, 93 for 1 after 10 overs, and 100 soon after. Mooney reached her fifty off 35 balls, and Devine ended the match with back-to-back sixes off Wareham.
| Team | Score | Overs |
| Melbourne Renegades Women | 136/6 | 20 |
| Perth Scorchers Women | 138/1 | 13.3 |
Player of the Match
Beth Mooney was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 58 off 40 balls, which anchored the chase.
Key Performances
| Player | Performance |
| Beth Mooney | 58 not out off 40 balls, Player of the Match |
| Sophie Devine | 47 not out off 32 balls, plus the winning sixes |
| Georgia Wareham | 62 off 39 balls for the Renegades |
| Nicole Faltum | 48 off 49 balls |
| Chloe Ainsworth | 2 for 22 |
| Fatima Sana | 2 for 27 on WBBL debut |
Mooney’s innings was the standout of the match. She was calm after the early loss of Mack, found the boundary regularly without taking risks, and finished unbeaten, a fitting performance from the new Scorchers captain. Devine, her partner in an unbroken century stand, provided the power at the other end and closed the game out with two clean sixes. For the Renegades, Wareham’s counter-attacking fifty was the one bright spark, and Faltum’s support kept them in the game far longer than the early collapse suggested. With the ball, Ainsworth’s two early wickets set the tone, while Sana impressed on debut with two wickets of her own. Vlaeminck was the only Renegades bowler to take a wicket, finishing with 1 for 29.
What It Means
This is a perfect start for Perth. A nine-wicket win with more than six overs to spare is a statement result, and it also boosts their net run rate early in the tournament. Mooney and Devine firing together is the combination every other team fears, and the bowling attack showed depth even before Alana King, who took the wicket of Flintoff with her first ball, was fully into her work. For the Renegades, this is now a second defeat in two matches, and the pattern is worrying: a top-order collapse followed by a rescue act, then a bowling attack unable to defend a below-par total. Molineux’s side needs its senior batters, Matthews and Molineux herself, to fire soon, and it needs early wickets if it is to stay competitive in this league. The gap between the sides was clear at the WACA, and the Renegades must close it quickly before the season slips away.
FAQs
Who won Perth Scorchers Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women, WBBL Match 5?
Perth Scorchers Women won by nine wickets, chasing down 137 with 39 balls remaining at the WACA Ground, Perth, on 31 October 2026.
What was the final score?
Melbourne Renegades Women scored 136 for 6 in 20 overs, and Perth Scorchers Women replied with 138 for 1 in 13.3 overs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Beth Mooney, who scored an unbeaten 58 off 40 balls and captained Perth to victory in their first match of the season.
Who were the top scorers in the match?
Georgia Wareham top-scored overall with 62 off 39 balls for the Renegades, followed by Beth Mooney’s 58 not out, Nicole Faltum’s 48, and Sophie Devine’s 47 not out.
What happened to the Renegades’ top order?
They collapsed to 20 for 4 in the powerplay, losing Matthews, Molineux, Webb and Flintoff cheaply, before Wareham and Faltum rebuilt with a record 109-run fifth-wicket stand.
Conclusion
In the end, this was as comfortable as a nine-wicket win sounds. Perth were better with the ball in the powerplay, better in the field, and far better with the bat in the chase. Mooney and Devine did not just win the match, they made it look easy, and that will send a warning to the rest of the WBBL. The Renegades leave Perth with a second loss and plenty to fix, while the Scorchers leave the WACA with two points, a healthy net run rate, and momentum that could carry them deep into the season.
For the complete innings break-up, see the full scorecard on Cricbuzz.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
