Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers lead unbeaten WBBL|12 race

The Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers sit unbeaten on top of the Weber WBBL|12 table, Cricket Australia said in a statement on Saturday.

Both teams have 10 points from five matches, with 20 matches of the 40-game regular season now completed.

The Heat are third on six points after three straight wins, while the Thunder, Strikers and Renegades are level on four points apiece.

The top four advance to the finals, and the top-ranked team at the end of the regular season will host the final on Saturday, Dec. 5.

The third-placed team will host the fourth-ranked side in The Knockout on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and the winner will play the second-ranked team in The Challenger on Thursday, Dec. 3.

The Scorchers have made their strongest start to a season in a decade, and they kept winning even without Beth Mooney, who was missing for the first time since she joined the club in 2020, Cricket Australia said.

The Sixers have won two matches decided on the final ball and have three home games still to play, with their clash against the Scorchers at North Sydney Oval possibly previewing this year's final.

The Heat lost their opening match to the Sixers on the last ball, then broke through for their first win after Charli Knott's century against the Strikers.

The Thunder were widely tipped as favourites before the season, but they have lost three straight matches after opening with two wins.

The Stars have lost five matches in a row after an emphatic start to the season, and they have only two home fixtures left.

The Renegades have two wins from five matches and need to get more out of their batting if they want to make a run at the finals, Cricket Australia said.

The Hurricanes have lost their first five matches in their title defence, and they likely need to win all five remaining games to reach the finals.