In an intense face-off at North Sydney Oval, Ashleigh Gardner’s spectacular bowling performance was the highlight of the fifth match in the Women’s Big Bash League’s tenth edition, as the Sydney Sixers fell just 11 runs short against the Adelaide Strikers.
After the Sixers chose to bowl, Gardner delivered one of the best spells of the season so far, taking 4 for 32 and dismantling the Strikers’ middle and lower order. Her incredible accuracy and power-packed bowling dismissed Orla Prendergast, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, and Anesu Mushangwe, helping to keep the Strikers to 171. Trusted by captain Ellyse Perry with the critical final over, Gardner did not disappoint; she conceded just 2 runs and claimed 3 wickets, giving the Sixers a solid foundation for the chase. Watch Gardner’s game-changing spell here.
4 balls. 3 wickets.
Ash Gardner! #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/281xXOvl8X
— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 29, 2024
Despite Gardner’s heroics, the Sixers couldn’t seal the win. Perry led the reply with an explosive 54 off 28 balls, and Sarah Bryce added a steady 62 off 44. However, Gardner’s efforts were not enough to prevent a batting collapse as the Sixers slipped from 140/4 to 158/9, narrowly missing the target by 11 runs.
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