The 27-year-old Australian Women's National Cricket Team star Ashleigh Gardner stunned the cricket world with her effort during the third and final ODI of the ongoing Ashes series against the Australian Women's National Cricket Team England.
Ashleigh Gardner produced an absolute screamer near the boundary ropes to dismiss 25-year-old England women's national cricket team player Sophie Ecclestone at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Friday 17 January.
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Ashleigh Gardner crushes Maiden00 and takes an outrageous catch
Gardner brought out his best in the third ODI against the English team and produced a batting masterclass in the first innings. The Australian team's top order batsmen failed to get going and were struggling at 59/4.
Gardner then joined forces with Beth Mooney and bailed the team out of trouble with their 95-run partnership.
Mooney returned to the hut after hitting a fifty, but Gardner extended her stay in the middle and was involved in a 103-run partnership with Tahlia McGrath.
The 27-year-old also completed her 100-ball century and it was her first century in international cricket. She was eventually dismissed for 102 by Lauren Bell.
Gardner was not satisfied with her contribution with the bat and wanted to contribute more in the second innings. She could not pick any wicket with the ball but took a crazy catch near the boundary line to stun the cricketing world.
On the 3rd ball of the 41st over, spinner Alana King bowled a full ball to Sophie Ecclestone who tried to smash it for a six.
However, Gardner denied him the boundary as he jumped, grabbed the ball with one hand and, after losing his balance, threw the ball into the air as it crossed the boundary. Gardner then jumped back and completed an absolutely sensational catch by diving forward.
Watch: Ashleigh Gardner makes sensational catch
Outrageous stuff from Ashleigh Gardner! This is a timer #Ash #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/uVl7zsLR8p
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2025
I clearly misjudged this – Ashleigh Gardner
Gardner won the Player of the Match award for her heroics in the match as she played a key role in Australia Women winning the match by 86 runs and winning the series 3–0.
Speaking after the match, the Aussie said she has been looking to score an international ton for a very long time.
“Something I've been looking for. Getting a hundred for my country. A few emotions when I got to it. I was able to sit back and appreciate it and let it sink in. Different people got up at different points , Kingy took a five- because I haven't scored too many centuries in my life,” Gardner said.
“To do that for my country, to share the partnership with Moons and TMac, I'm sure he'll take confidence from that innings.
While talking about her amazing catch, Gardner said that she initially misjudged the catch but somehow managed to catch it in the end. He stated:
“(On her catch) I misjudged that because I took it one-handed. But then I was able to throw it back, you don't practice it a lot, luckily instincts took over.”