‘Are you kidding?’: Cricket World Cup stunned by Ash Gardner’s outfield catch

Australia all-rounder Ash Gardner continues to turn heads at the World Cup in New Zealand, but on this occasion in the field.

It will take something special to prevent Australia from lifting the World Cup trophy in Christchurch next month.

The Aussies have cruised to a sixth consecutive victory in the fifty-over tournament, with skipper Meg Lanning smacking a record 15th ODI century to help chase South Africa’s 272-run target with 28 balls to spare in Wellington.

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Australia has won 37 of its 39 ODI matches since 2017’s shock World Cup semi-final exit, including a record-breaking 26 consecutive victories between 2018 and 2021.

Lanning’s unbeaten 135, which came off just 130 deliveries at Basin Reserve, featured 15 boundaries and a whopping six over mid-wicket.

The 29-year-old averages 67.31 in ODI run chases, tallying 10 centuries and 11 fifties to her name in the second innings. The only cricketer with a larger batting average in ODI run chases, minimum 20 innings, is Indian icon Virat Kohli at 67.34.

South African young gun Laura Wolvaardt scored 90 in South Africa’s innings, combining alongside opener Lizelle Lee in an 88-run partnership for the first wicket.

But the highlight for Australia in the field came from none other than Ash Gardner, playing her 100th international fixture on Tuesday.

Meg Lanning of Australia. Photo by Hagen Hopkins-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

In the 46th over of South Africa’s innings, Mignon du Preez lofted Aussie spinner Jess Jonassen towards the mid-wicket boundary, where Gardner was desperately back-pedalling.

The 24-year-old jumped in the air and stuck out her right arm, somehow snagging the ball in her outstretched hand.

Du Preez could hardly believe it; neither could Gardner.

“Brilliant from Ash Gardner, what a cricketer she is,” former England captain Nasser Hussain said in commentary.

“Came in a couple of yards and then she was backtracking, she had to go one-handed. She’s amazed herself.

“I was lucky enough to see that Ben Stokes catch at The Oval … that is just as good from Ash Gardner.”

ASH GARDNER ARE YOU KIDDING?#CWC22

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 22, 2022

Ash Gardner #freak

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) March 22, 2022

Ash Gardner has just taken the latest in a seemingly endless run of absurdly impressive catches at #CWC22. The balance at full stretch was absolutely remarkable. Thumb and forefinger alone held on. She could scarcely believe she'd taken the catch herself.

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) March 22, 2022

Gardner claimed figures of 1/52 with the ball before steering Australia towards victory with a crucial 22 in the run chase.

The New South Wales all-rounder received the Belinda Clark Award in January, given to Australia’s best female cricketer over the past 12 months.

Gardner missed the opening two matches of Australia’s World Cup campaign after testing positive to Covid-19 in New Zealand.

Australia, who have already qualified for the semi-finals, will next face Bangladesh in Wellington on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 9am AEDT.

Originally published as ‘Are you kidding?’: Cricket World Cup stunned by Ash Gardner’s outfield catch