In an electrifying match between England (ENG) and Australia (AUS), Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland ruled with bat and ball as they led Australia to a six-wicket win in Indore, back to the top of the points table in the current series.
The duo together scored an unbeaten 180-run partnership, the second-highest for the fifth wicket or later in women’s ODI cricket history, taking their team to an easy win in 40.3 overs.
Gardner and Sutherland’s Match-Winning Performance
AUS vs ENG Australia clash was a stellar all-round effort by Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland. Having put up a fabulous show with the ball, picking up five wickets together to deny England 244/9, the pair seized control with the bat, driving Australia to an authoritative win.
Gardner was the hero with an unbeaten 104* from 73 balls, while Sutherland complemented her with a 98* knock. They together contributed an unbroken 180-run stand to run down England’s total in 40.3 overs. The partnership was the second-highest for the fifth wicket or below in women’s ODI history.
Australia’s Shaky Chase, But Gardner and Sutherland Rescue
Australia’s run-chase of 245 did not have a good beginning as Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith picked early wickets. Phoebe Litchfield was bowled by an amazing delivery from Bell, and Georgia Voll was sent back by Smith. The top-order of Australia continued to crumble when Ellyse Perry was caught off a return catch to Smith, reducing Australia to 24/3.
But a slight comeback was provided by Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland, who contributed 44 runs before Mooney got out to a short ball by Sophie Ecclestone. After a 28-ball boundary famine, Sutherland and Gardner freed their shackles in the 21st over, with Sutherland smashing the sole six of the innings and bringing her fifty in style.
Gardner’s Historic Century Shines in AUS vs ENG
Gardner’s powerful batting stayed the same as she sprinted to her third ODI hundred, and her second of this World Cup. Her hundred, taken in only 69 deliveries, was the quickest in Women’s World Cup history, beating Deandra Dottin’s earlier record of 71 deliveries versus Pakistan in 2017. Sutherland, on 91, was dropped off an Ecclestone ball but was eventually given out for 98, two runs short of her hundred.
Gardner, though, saw them over the line, thumping three fours off Sophie Ecclestone to win the match and score a phenomenal 104* off 73 balls. Australia chased down the target with ease, with the unbroken stand of the pair securing a six-wicket win.
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England’s Early Charge and Middle Order Collapse
Earlier, Tahlia McGrath, captaining Australia in the absence of Alyssa Healy, opted to bowl first. England got off to a fast start as Tammy Beaumont played a key role, hitting boundaries off Megan Schutt and Kim Garth, while Amy Jones and Beaumont launched a series of big shots to take England to 50 in just eight overs.
Annabel Sutherland was the game-changing bowler, dismissing Jones with a seaming delivery that nipped in and straightened. England’s impetus was halted when Beaumont and Knight accumulated 35 runs together before Knight was caught by Sophie Molineux.
Beaumont got to a patient 50, but Sciver-Brunt’s removal to Alana King left England at 105/3. England middle order was troubled while Sutherland and Gardner dominated with the ball. Sutherland got 3 wickets for 60 runs, and Gardner contributed 2 for 39.
Late Flourish by England’s Lower Order
England’s lower order resisted for a short while, Charlie Dean and Alice Capsey contributing 61 runs for the seventh wicket. Efforts of both, however, came to an end in rapid succession, with England’s innings coming to a close at 244/9 in 50 overs.
Brief Scores:
England: 244/9 in 50 overs (Tammy Beaumont 78, Alice Capsey 38; Annabel Sutherland 3-60, Ashleigh Gardner 2-39)
Australia: 248/4 in 40.3 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 104*, Annabel Sutherland 98*; Linsey Smith 2-43) by 6 wickets.
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