Sophie Devine retires mid-innings in Scorchers win
Sophie Devine became the first WBBL player to retire out, letting Freya Kemp accelerate in the final overs.
Sophie Devine voluntarily left the field after the 17th over while on 42 from 39 balls, the first tactical retirement in WBBL history. Sophie Devine had scored just 10 runs from her last 16 deliveries and felt she wasn't batting fluently.
Freya Kemp came in and smashed 30 off 10 balls as Perth added 47 runs from the final three overs. The Scorchers beat Sydney Thunder by 17 runs.
Captain Beth Mooney praised Devine's selflessness, saying she recognised the ball wasn't coming off and trusted her teammate to finish the job. Perth are now undefeated after three games.
- 42 from 39 balls
- Devine's score
- 30 from 10 balls
- Kemp's score
- 47 runs
- Final runs from last 3 overs
- 17 runs
- Margin of victory
Why it mattersIt shows how modern T20 cricket uses tactical flexibility and player trust.
AustraliaPerth Scorchers' unbeaten start to WBBL|12 is built on tactical innovation that may influence how other Australian women's teams approach their final overs.
