AUS vs NZ, 1st T20I: Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner achieved a major milestone by scoring her first ODI World Cup century during the match against New Zealand on Wednesday. This was the first hundred of the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Interestingly, this is only Gardner’s second century in ODI cricket overall. Earlier this year, she notched her maiden hundred, scoring 102 against England in the Women’s Ashes.
AUS vs NZ, 1st T20I: Ashleigh Gardner’s Explosive Knock
Ashleigh Gardner reached her century in just 77 balls, hitting a boundary through cover off Sophie Devine. On the very next delivery, she hit another boundary down the ground to register her highest individual ODI score.
At the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Ashleigh Gardner walked in to bat when Australia was in trouble at 128/5 in 21.2 overs. She then built crucial partnerships with Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, and Kim Garth, helping Australia cross the 300-run mark and post a commanding total.
Her innings ended at 115 runs off 83 balls after she edged one to wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze off Breearne Illing in the 47th over.
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Records Broken in the Match
The match saw multiple records fall, making it a memorable game for both teams:
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326 – Australia’s highest-ever total against New Zealand in women’s ODIs. This is also the third-highest total by Australia in Women’s ODI World Cups and the highest total against New Zealand in World Cups, surpassing England’s 284/9 at Derby in 2017.
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69-run partnership – Ashleigh Gardner and Kim Garth’s stand is the second-highest for Australia Women for the 8th wicket or lower in World Cups, behind the 76-run 10th-wicket stand between Kristen Beams and Alex Blackwell against India at Derby in 2017.
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77 balls – Ashleigh Gardner scored the third-fastest hundred in Women’s ODI World Cup history.
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115 runs – Gardner’s century is the first by a batter at No. 6 or lower in Women’s ODI World Cups. It is also the highest score by a batter at No. 6 or lower in women’s ODIs overall.
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1028 runs – Phoebe Litchfield crossed 1000 runs in women’s ODIs with her 31-ball 45.
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100 wickets – Amelia Kerr became the third New Zealand player to take 100 wickets in women’s ODIs.
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4 catches – Suzie Bates took four catches in the first innings, the most by a player in a single innings of the Women’s ODI World Cup.
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2nd occurrence – Both New Zealand openers were dismissed for ducks for only the second time in an ODI innings, after England at Chester-le-Street in 2002.
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12th instance – This is the 12th time both openers scored ducks in a World Cup innings and the first time since 2013 (Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in Mumbai).
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1st unwanted record – Georgia Plimmer became the first opener in Women’s World Cup history to be dismissed without facing a ball after being run out.
A Match to Remember
Ashleigh Gardner’s heroic innings and the record-breaking performances from both sides made this Australia vs New Zealand clash one of the standout games of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.
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