Gardner snares 5-15 as Scorchers cop embarrassing loss

Star allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has produced the ultimate captain's performance to lead the Sydney Sixers to a crushing 10-wicket WBBL win over the Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground.

And in other matches on Sunday, Melbourne Renegades stand-in captain Georgia Wareham returned career-best figures in a seven-wicket win over Brisbane Heat in a rain-shortened season opener, while Hobart beat the Sydney Thunder by six wickets.

Gardner's first match as full-time Sixers skipper was as close to perfection as you could get, with the 28-year-old snaring a remarkable 5-15 off four overs as Perth were skittled for 109.

It was the best WBBL bowling figures by a Sixers player.

In reply to Perth's meagre total, the Sixers then raced to the victory target with a whopping 43 balls to spare courtesy of breezy knocks from Sophia Dunkley (61no off 40 balls) and Ellyse Perry (47no off 37 balls).

Sydney finished at 0-112 from 12.5 overs in a performance that will send a huge warning to the rest of their opponents.

"It was a lot of fun," Gardner said.

"We knew the WACA was going to produce a little bit more bounce, so for me it was about making sure to hit my lengths."

Gardner's rampage began with the key wicket of Sophie Devine, who was stumped in almost accidental fashion after the wicketkeeper fumbled the ball.

Earlier in the day at Allan Border Field, Wareham, filling in for injured skipper Sophie Molineux, took 3-12 in a superb spell of legspin in the rematch of last season's WBBL final, also won by the Renegades.

She was also there at the end with the bat to guide her side to victory.

The Heat, batting through light drizzle, were bowled out for 133 off the last ball of the 20th over after being sent in by Wareham.

The rain strengthened and when play resumed the run chase was reduced to eight overs and a DLS target of 66.

The Renegades were 3-13 after two overs but Wareham (16no) and in-form Courtney Webb (34no) guided them to victory with three deliveries remaining.

India's Jemimah Rodrigues and South Africa's Nadine de Klerk - opponents in the recent World Cup final won by India - teamed up again for Brisbane.

Rodrigues, who had made an unbeaten 127 in the stunning semi-final win over Australia, made just six.

De Klerk (40 off 38) was in top form and struck the ball beautifully through the cover region.

In the second match of the double header at Allan Border Field, the Thunder posted a formidable 8-181 against Hobart, with Heather Knight (39 off 31) the top scorer.

In reply, Hobart reached the victory target with three balls to spare thanks to big knocks from Danni Wyatt-Hodge (90 off 52 balls) and Nicola Carey (58no off 43 balls).

Wyatt-Hodge cracked nine fours and three sixes as Hobart pulled off a team-record WBBL run chase.