English import Sophie Dunkley has finally fired while Sophie Day's sensational season continues, as Melbourne Stars put a big dent in the Perth Scorchers hopes of finishing top of the WBBL ladder.
Second-placed Perth started Wednesday's match at the WACA in Perth knowing a win could lift them above Adelaide into first, but they crashed to a 33-run loss.
Batter Dunkley, who went into the match averaging under 11 from 12 innings, scored 73 off 48 balls - her first 50 off the tournament - as the Stars made 6-157.
Left-arm spinner Day then boosted her competition season-leading wicket tally to 27, one behind the all-time time season record of 28, as the Scorchers were held to 9-124.
It was the first time this season Perth have suffered successive losses and a third win in the last four games for the resurgent Stars, who can't make the finals.
Dunkley and compatriot Alice Casey (43 of 34) added 112 for the second wicket, the Stars biggest partnership of the season, and each had success driving down the ground.
The Stars were coasting at 1-113 In the 13th over, but lost 5-28, including 3-1 in the space of six balls across the 15th and 16th overs.
Piepa Cleary (2-30) off was a big factor In the Stars slump, taking wickets off successive deliveries and pouching two catches.
Stars made the ideal start with Kim Garth (1-14) having the dangerous Sophie Devine caught behind for a second-ball duck in the first over with just one run on the board.
The Scorchers suffered another blow In the second over when Maddy Darke was caught at mid-off from a leading edge off Annabel Sutherland (2-19), the second highest wicket taker in the tournament behind teammate Day.
The competiton's leading wicket-taker dismissed the highest run scorer when Day had Scorchers opener Beth Mooney caught at long on.
English internationals Amy Jones (42 off 30) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (24 off 29) raised the home team's hopes with a fourth wicket stand of 33 before the latter was stumped off spinner Capsey.
Jones continued to score freely despite wickets continuing to fall, with the Scorchers hopes dying after they lost three wickets in their two Power Surge overs.
