Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022 Weber WBBL
Melbourne Stars host Perth Scorchers in match 53 of the WBBL; the eighth edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 10.40am local time (11.40pm GMT, Friday, November 18) on Saturday, November 19.
The game will be played in Moe at the Ted Summerton Reserve.
Both sides lost their last outings: Melbourne Stars' defeat by Hobart Hurricanes ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stages, but they had won their two previous outings, with one of those indebted to Alice Capsey's unbeaten 80.
Perth Scorchers have gone off the boil at the wrong time: they've won just one of their last four, including defeats by three of their possible knockout rivals: Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat. Their solitary win in that period came against Melbourne Renegades, who are second-bottom ahead of their final fixture.
Defeat for Perth doesn't end their hopes of reaching the playoffs, but it would leave them effectively competing for fourth spot if Hurricanes beat Strikers on Friday. Should Adelaide beat Hobart and Scorchers beat Stars, that will leave three teams on 15 points, competing for two spots.
Beth Mooney is the leading run-scorer in the competition [Getty Images]
Alice Capsey, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Annabel Sutherland have done the bulk of Stars' run-scoring, so Scorchers will know that early wickets could provide the key.
Beth Mooney is the leading run-scorer in the competition, as tends to be the case, but Sophie Devine has been unusually out of nick. She has averaged just 13.1 through the group stage, but her compatriot - Maddy Green - has 208 runs, averaging 26 in the process. Marizanne Kapp smashed 68 off 37 against Sixers, albeit in defeat.
Alana King has 15 wickets at 15.3 apiece for Perth; for Melbourne, Sasha Moloney has been a relevation. She has 17 wickets in 12 games, three short of Sutherland, who is the third-highest wicket-taker in the competition.
Morning rain is expected in Moe.
Tess Flintoff missed Melbourne Stars' defeat by Hobart Hurricanes after suffering a shoulder injury in the second half of their doubleheader.
Melbourne Stars: Meg Lanning (unavailable - personal reasons), Alice Capsey, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum (c), Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Hasrat Gill, Olivia Henry
Perth Scorchers: Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sophie Devine (c), Maddy Green, Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Holly Ferling, Amy Edgar, Maddy Darke, Georgia Wyllie, Charis Bekker
Melbourne Stars: Lauren Winfield-Hill, Bess Heath, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth, Nicole Faltum, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Una Raymond-Hoey, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Day
Perth Scorchers: Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Maddy Green, Sophie Devine, Marizanne Kapp, Amy Edgar, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel
Alice Capsey was at her best against Hobart Hurricanes [Getty Images]
Scorchers are clear favourites for victory at 4/9; Stars are available at 2/1.
Scorchers, with plenty to play for, ought to have too much for Stars.
Standard tickets are available.
Sky Sports holds the UK rights for the WBBL. This game will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage of the competition resumes on November 18.
In Australia, fans will be able to watch all 59 matches in the WBBL live and free on either the Seven Network or cricket.com.au
A total of 24 games will be televised on free-to-air on Seven and simulcast on Foxtel and Kayo, while the remaining 35 games will be shown on Foxtel and Kayo Sports and also live-streamed for free on cricket.com.au.
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