Bunbury’s Chloe Piparo hoping third time is a charm ahead of Perth Scorchers’ WBBL final at Optus Stadium

When the Perth Scorchers first made a WBBL final four years ago, Chloe Piparo batted all the way down at number seven. When they made it again the next year, she missed out all together. Now the Bunbury product is set to take a lead role in Saturday’s decider, after returning to the venerated number three position for last weekend’s double-header. But Piparo, pictured, says the Scorchers’ middle order is completely flexible behind openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney, and claims it is “one of the strongest in the comp”. “In the past our middle order has come under a bit of heat for not finishing the job so it was quite nice for both games for the middle order to get some time out in the middle and to finish the job,” she said. “We had the luxury of having the two best openers in the comp and when they get off to a good start, it puts us in a really good position, but I think our middle order is one of the strongest in the comp as well. “We have played a lot of cricket together and have a lot of experience so we definitely think we can win games from anywhere. “We change it up depending on the start we get ... I am just happy to play my role whatever that is for the team on the day.” Piparo scored her maiden WBBL half-century to shoot the Scorchers straight to the top of the ladder and into Saturday’s home grand final at Perth’s Optus Stadium. “It was nice, a couple of results went our way on Saturday so we were sitting on top of the ladder going in on Sunday and knew where we stood,” she said. “We are really keen to be over here and playing in front of our own crowd.”