Ashleigh Gardner Hits 124 off 60 as Sydney Sixers Beat Hobart Hurricanes by 87 Runs

Sydney Sixers captain Ashleigh Gardner scored 124 off 60 balls and then took three wickets as her side beat Hobart Hurricanes by 87 runs in the Women's Big Bash League at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on 1 November. The Sixers recovered from 6 for 3 to post 196 for 8, and the defending champions were bowled out for 109 in 17.4 overs.

From 6 for 3 to 196

The Sixers had lost three wickets for six runs inside the first three overs when Gardner was joined by England’s Alice Capsey. The pair added 176 for the fourth wicket, which turned the match. Gardner hit 10 fours and nine sixes in her innings, her second century in the competition. Capsey finished unbeaten on 54 from 40 balls.

Gardner’s wicket started a slide of five for seven, though the Sixers still reached 196 for 8.

After the game Gardner said she “felt like this is a really good wicket”.

Hurricanes fold in reply

The chase never got going. Hobart were 26 for 5 in the eighth over, and only Maddy Green, unbeaten on 42 from 33 balls, offered lasting resistance. Gardner’s spin brought her three wickets from three overs. Melie Kerr also took three wickets, for 25 runs, and Caoimhe Bray took 2 for 14.

Grace Harris is the only other player to combine a hundred with three or more wickets in a WBBL game.

Where the teams stand

The win gave the Sixers two victories from their first two matches of the season, which began on 29 October, after they beat Brisbane Heat by four wickets in their opener. The Hurricanes, who had lost to Melbourne Stars by 18 runs in their first game, went on to lose to Melbourne Renegades by four wickets at Bellerive Oval on 4 November, leaving them without a win after three matches. The Sixers' next game is against Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval on 6 November.