The first innings of the WPL 2025 opener, between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Giants witnessed a display of fireworks, with Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner leading the charge with her blistering innings.
Gardner remained unbeaten on 79 runs, coming off just 37 balls, hitting 3 fours and 8 sixes, equalling Sophie Devine’s record of most sixes in a single innings of WPL.
She came into bat when Gujarat was 41/2 and stitched some beautiful partnerships with Beth Mooney (44 runs), Deandra Dottin (67 runs) and Simran Shaikh (30 runs) and propelled Gujarat to a total of 201 on a loss of five wickets. She reached her half-century in just 25 balls.
The highlight of her innings was when she hit three sixes on the trot off Prema Rawat’s bowling in the 14th over. It began with Rawat tossing one up outside off, and Gardner with her spectacular footwork danced down the track to send it soaring over long off.
The next delivery, a well-flighted googly outside off, met the same fate as Gardner stepped out once again and muscled it over wide long on. The third six was the icing on the cake, as Gardner popped a drag-down delivery on leg stump over deep backward square leg, leaving the crowd in awe of her incredible hitting skills.
Her onslaught continued, with three more sixes in the 18th over, helping Gujarat to reach a formidable total of 201/5 – their highest in WPL history. Her knock was a true captain’s innings, inspiring her team to a strong start in the tournament.
