Ashleigh Gardner lit up Manuka Oval with an unbeaten knock of 136 and bowling figures of 3-37 to steer NSW to victory against Queensland
Match Report:
ScorecardGardner's century leads NSW to victory
Ashleigh Gardner has struck a blazing century to lead the New South Wales Breakers to a narrow 24-run victory against traditional rivals Queensland at Manuka Oval.
Big-hitting allrounder and member of Australia's T20 World Cup squad, Gardner finished unbeaten on 136 from 108 deliveries, in an entertaining knock that featured 13 fours and 7 sixes.
A cracking game of cricket and it is job done in Canberra! ✅ A 24 run win over Queensland. #WNCL Scorecards: https://t.co/reAkPX1CtL pic.twitter.com/gdTtMpRlKT— NSW Breakers (@NSWBreakers) January 22, 2020
Player of the match Gardner also shone with the ball, claiming 3-37 in a win that lifted the Breakers to top spot on the WNCL standings.
Number five batter Gardner came to the crease in the 13th over and got off to a relatively slow start, scoring just six runs from the first 20 balls she faced, before breaking the shackles with her first six in the 20th over.
Image Id: 11A745AA68554BDAAC201BB40A88F09A Image Caption: Ashleigh Gardner struck seven 6s on her way to 136
Batting alongside Tahlia Wilson (51) for much of the innings, the two putting on a crucial 112-run partnership.
Gardner anchored the innings brilliantly for NSW, weathering a late-innings wobble when Phoebe Litchfield (1), Rachael Trenaman (1), Rene Farrell (6), Sarah Aley (0) and Hayley Silver Holmes (3) all fell in quick succession for single figure scores.
However Gardner stood tall and proceeded to take a staggering 25 runs off Delissa Kimmince in the 46th over.
Sammy Jo Johnson (2-40), Georgia Prestwidge (2-36) and Jess Jonassen (2-30) were most effective with the ball for Queensland, however it took until the 47th over for Jemma Barsby to finally claim the key wicket of Gardner.
Defending 248, Gardner was similarly impressive with the ball, finishing the day with 3-37 from her 10 overs.
The Queensland chase got off to a rocky start, with Australia stars Beth Mooney (19) and Jess Jonassen (1) dismissed inside the first five overs.
Captain and opening batter Kirby Short (52) combined with Georgia Redmayne (19) for a 60-run stand to keep the scoreboard ticking for the visitors.
With Queensland’s top-seven batters back in the sheds at and 147 runs on the board, Kimmince and Barsby showed plenty of fighting spirit, combining for a 48-run stand to steer Queensland within 31 runs of their target.
However, Silver-Holmes delivered with the final wicket for NSW, sealing a 24-run win for the reigning champions.
The Breakers will be back in action at Manuka Oval on Thursday against the ACT Meteors.
2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
Warm-ups
February 15: Australia v West Indies, Allan Border Field
February 18: Australia v South Africa, Karen Rolton Oval
Tournament
February 21:Australia v India, Sydney Showgrounds
February 24: Australia v Sri Lanka, WACA Ground
February 27: Australia v Bangladesh, Manuka Oval
March 2: Australia v New Zealand, Junction Oval
March 5: Semi-final 1 & Semi-final 2, SCG
March 8: Final, MCG
For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE
* All matches will be broadcast on Fox Cricket and Kayo, while Australia’s matches will also be broadcast on the Nine Network