Ellyse Perry was left cursing her decision to take a sneaky single as the Sydney Sixers crashed to a 61-run WBBL loss to the Perth Scorchers at North Sydney Oval.
Star Scorchers opener Beth Mooney scored an unbeaten 91 off 57 balls in Thursday's clash to lift her team to a formidable 6-189.
Perry snared 2-26 with the ball, took two catches in the field and pulled off a direct-hit run out.
The 33-year-old then made a strong start with the bat, cracking five fours and two sixes to get the Sixers' run-chase off to a positive start.
But her decision to take a quick single after playing a shot to mid-off proved disastrous, with Piepa Cleary gathering the ball on the run and throwing down the stumps in the same action to find Perry metres short of her crease.
Perry's dismissal for 40 off 29 balls sparked a collapse of 6-37 as the Sixers crashed to defeat, bringing an end to their four-match winning run.
The result lifted the Scorchers (8-3) one game clear on top of the ladder, while the Sixers (5-6) are fifth and face a battle to make the finals with just three matches remaining.
Perry sent the dangerous Sophie Devine packing for 12 with a run out as the Scorchers stumbled to 2-24 early in their innings.
But it was the Mooney show from that point on as the 29-year-old thumped nine fours and four sixes to dismantle the Sixers' attack.
Mooney has now scored 509 runs this season to lead the race for the Golden Bat.
"I'm happy with how I'm going, but it only counts if we get to those finals," Mooney told Fox Cricket after the match.
"Hopefully we keep on a roll and humming along nicely.
"It was an all-round Scorchers performance today. I thought our bowlers did an amazing job."
Erin Burns provided the highlight of the match when she dived at full length while running at pace to take a spectacular catch to dismiss Scorchers import Amy Jones for 28.
