Wolvaardt's unbeaten 83 lifts Adelaide Strikers to 202 for 4 as Perth begin the chase

Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 83 from 45 balls carried Adelaide Strikers to 202 for 4 at the WACA and left Perth Scorchers, unbeaten in WBBL|12, chasing 203

Adelaide Strikers won the toss, chose to bat and made 202 for 4 in their 20 overs in the 22nd match of the Women's Big Bash League at the W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth, with Laura Wolvaardt unbeaten on 83 at the end of the innings.

South Africa's captain faced 45 balls and hit seven fours and four sixes, finishing not out as the Strikers lost only four wickets across the 20 overs.

Perth, who came into the round at the head of the table without a defeat, lost Beth Mooney in the fourth over of the reply and were 24 for 1 after 3.3 overs, needing 179 from 99 balls.

Strikers bat first and set 203

Adelaide's call at the toss gave them first use of the surface, and they used it to post the sort of total that takes a chasing side out of its routine.

Losing four wickets in 20 overs meant the Strikers never had to rebuild, and they were able to bat through the back end of the innings with wickets in hand.

Perth, who had won all five of their matches before Saturday, were left needing more than ten an over from the first ball of the reply.

Wolvaardt unbeaten at the close

Wolvaardt's 83 not out from 45 balls was the innings the total was built around, struck at better than 180 runs per hundred balls.

Her four sixes were matched by seven fours, and she was still at the crease when the 20th over was completed.

Cricket Australia's coverage of the innings credited it with taking her to the BKT Golden Bat, the award given to the season's leading run-scorer.

Mooney falls in the fourth over

Perth's reply began with the required rate already above ten an over, and the early loss of their opener made it steeper still.

Mooney made 7 from 9 balls before she was caught by Maia Bouchier off Anesu Mushangwe, who struck with her second delivery of the match.

Katie Mack was 12 not out from 11 balls at the other end, with Perth 24 for 1 and 179 still required from 99 deliveries.

Perth's unbeaten run under threat

The Scorchers had won each of their first five matches of WBBL|12 and led the table on net run rate ahead of Sydney Sixers, the only other side yet to lose.

The two unbeaten sides are already level on points, with net run rate the only thing separating them, so the margin at the WACA matters as much as the result.

Adelaide arrived in Perth outside the top four, in fifth, but with a match in hand on the sides clustered around the middle of the table.

What is at stake in the finals race

The top four at the end of the regular season qualify for the WBBL|12 finals, and the order within them decides who takes the shortest route.

Third hosts fourth in the Knockout on 1 December, the winner goes to the side that finishes second for the Challenger on 3 December, and the minor premier hosts the final on 5 December.

Brisbane Heat, third before the round, strengthened their own case earlier on Saturday by bowling Hobart Hurricanes out for 86 and winning by ten wickets.

For Perth, first place is worth more than any single result; for Adelaide, a win at the WACA would put them back in contention for the four with a game still in reserve.

Scorecard: Adelaide Strikers Women 202 for 4 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 83 not out); Perth Scorchers Women 24 for 1 after 3.3 overs, chasing 203 at the W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth.