Women’s Ashes 2025: Ash Gardner plays ‘one of the best Ashes innings’ and takes ‘the catch of the century’
When Ash Gardner’s first one-day international century (described as “one of the best Ashes innings”) isn’t even her most memorable achievement of the day, you know you’re witnessing Something spectacular.
The all-rounder rescued Australia from 59-4 with a flawless 102 runs to help them post 308-8 to build a 86 consecutive wins to ensure England remain winless on the tour so far.
When asked for the third time in this ODI series, Australia performed well to retain the Women’s Ashes title at the earliest.
Australia now lead the points-based multi-format series 6-0, while England must win all three T20 matches (scoring 2 points each) and Test matches (scoring 4 points) to regain the Ashes by draw Will see them retained by the holder.
Gardner was supported by a 50 from the patient Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath hammered 55 off 45 balls and then Georgia Wareham Georgia Wareham’s 12-ball 38 took the game away from England, who had absolutely no answer for the world champions.
“It was a really special innings,” former England batsman Ebony Rainford-Brent said on TNT Sports.
“Ashe Gardner is leading the way in the women’s global game. I thought it was one of the best Ashes innings I have ever seen.
“That stood out to me because it was a slow surface and Australia were struggling at 59-4. You’d think most teams would be pushing for 160, 180 or whatever it might be. ”
Gardner is known for her explosive power with the bat and is one of the most powerful forwards in the women’s game, but it was at Hobart that she showcased her versatility in a 95-run partnership with Mooney, leading the team from Recovering from the loss of four early wickets it relied more on strike rotation and skill than brute force and risk-taking.
This allowed the lower order to accelerate past 300 towards the end of the innings, keeping England firmly on the ropes, but the best was yet to come.
