The Sydney Thunder have overcome stifling heat and a talent-laden Perth Scorchers to boost their Women's Big Bash League finals chances with a pair of crucial wins at the WACA Ground.
The Thunder followed up Sunday's 22-run win over the Scorchers with a hard-fought eight-wicket victory in Monday's re-match.
Chasing 153 for victory, Sydney reached 2-156 with just two balls to spare in 41-degree heat.
West Indies star Stafanie Taylor (57 off 46) and former Australian international Rachael Haynes (66 off 59) were the stars for the Thunder, combining for a 118-run opening stand to set up the victorious run chase.
Needing 24 runs to win off the final 18 balls, Nicola Carey (9no off 4 balls) and captain Alex Blackwell (6no off 11 balls) helped get the Thunder over the line once Haynes and Taylor departed.
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The pair of wins moved the Thunder into third spot on the table with a 5-2 record.
"To come all the way to Perth and come away with two wins is a great thing for our group," Haynes said.
"It places us well for the rest of the season.
"We really want to be part of the finals series. That's our goal, to make sure we're there at the end of the season."
Earlier in the day, Scorchers star Charlotte Edwards continued her hot form with the bat by plundering 88 off 66 balls in her team's total of 3-152.
Edwards cracked two half-centuries in wins over the Melbourne Stars on Saturday and Sunday, and she cracked 13 fours and a six against the Thunder on Monday.
But the team total wasn't enough to defend under the scorching Perth sun, with Taylor and Haynes making light work of the run chase.
"It was a disappointing day. When you get 150, you should win most games of T20 cricket," Edwards said.
"We didn't take our chances early on. We probably didn't bowl our best today."
The Scorchers played four games in three days in the hot Perth conditions, but Edwards said it would be wrong to blame that for the pair of losses against the Thunder.
"That's no excuse. We should still win games of cricket regardless of the heat," she said.
The Scorchers are fourth with a 5-5 win-loss tally.
Hobart Hurricanes (6-1) still lead the way at the top of the table, with Brisbane Heat (6-4) in second spot.
Sydney Thunder will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Heat and Hurricanes in a double header.
The Scorchers travel to take on the Adelaide Strikers in matches on Friday and Saturday.
