Ash Gardner blasted a maiden international century in Australia’s massive ODI sore in Hobart

Ash Gardner took a catch to rival the best ever after making her first international hundred to put England on its knees after three Ashes ODIs.

An “amazing” first international hundred from Ash Gardner, as well as a catch-of-the summer contender and sizzling series entrance from Georgia Wareham helped Australia put their collective foot on England’s throats and one hand on retaining the Ashes completing an ODI sweep in Hobart.

Gardner, the reigning Belinda Clark Award winner had never made a Test, ODI or T20 hundred with previous best ODI score of 74 before launching into the listless English bowling attack at Bellerive smashing eight fours and a six in her run-a-ball score of 102.

She became the first Indigenous woman to score a century for Australia and just the second, ever, to score an ODI hundred batting at number six while Wareham, brought in for her leg-spin on a dry Bellerive Oval, walloped 32 off 12-balls, including as final ball six, as the home team posted a mammoth 8-308.

Gardner’s brilliant boundary line, juggling catch, tossing the ball back in to play after falling over the boundary, put an exclamation point on her marvellous day to help lock in the 86-run win as a dogged English batting fight was extinguished by first Wareham (2-27), then King who took her first five-wicket haul.

“Something I have been searching for. Getting a hundred for my country,” Gardner said in the aftermath

“Some emotions when I got to that. I was able to sit back and appreciate and let it sink it.

“I haven’t scored too many centuries in my life. To do it for my country... emotional.”

ASH GARDNER, YOU BEAUTY 😍

One of the best catches in the history of women's cricket. #CricketTwitter#AUSvENGpic.twitter.com/iQtX9PKSue

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 17, 2025

Needing to produce a record run-chase the dogged English batters pushed and pushed, Nat Sciver Brunt making 61 and Tammy Beaumont’s 51 making the Australians work, targeting spin star King who raised eyebrows declaring her teammates were a “lot calmer” than the visitors at the back-end of in Tuesday’s horror failed run-chase.

But after being smashed for 36 off her fiets five overs, King took two quick wickets, after Wareham removed earlier removed troublemakers Sciver Brunt and Beaumont to justify her selection, killing off England;s resitrance and securing a 6-0 points lead in the multi-format series before the T20s begin next Monday at the SCG.

King finished with 5-46 as she cleaned up the tail, two wickets coming via stunning catches from Phoebe Litchfield, before Gardner’s epic feat, as English lost 6-22 to be all out for 222.

“I clearly misjudged that because I took that one-handed,” Gardner said of her amazing catch.

“But then managed to throw it back in, you don’t practice it in heaps, luckily instincts took over.”

PHOEBE LITCHFIELD 🤯#Ashespic.twitter.com/44Rw3wQVjV

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 17, 2025

AWESOME ASH

Coming in with Australia in trouble at 4-59, Gardner proved the ultimate rebuilder.

She put on a 92-run partnership with Beth Mooney, who batted her way out of a rut to made a 62-ball 50, then 103 in less than 14 overs Tahlia McGrath, who also found form making 55 off just 45-balls as Australia put Tuesday’s middling batting performance, which netted a 15-year-low, to bed.

Gardner became only the second batter in the history of women’s ODIs to come in at No. 6 and score a century and in her 178th match for Australia “finally” reached triple-figures.

Her previous best ODI score was 74, and her best international score, in a T20, was 93.

MAIDEN TON!!

Ash Gardner brings up three figures for Australia for the first time, what a knock! #Ashes#AUSvENGpic.twitter.com/fC3zeyQjy6

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2025

BATTERS ARE BACK

The Australian total was Australia’s fifth total above 290, and second above 300, in the past five ODIs, and a stark turnaround from the batting battles of the opening two Ashes clashes.

McGrath made her 50 off just 38 balls, finishing on 55, having made 1, 2 and 10 in her past three ODIs innings, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Mooney, who equalled her own total run haul in her past five innings with her half-century.

“It’s never easy when you are feeling out of form and out of runs,” Mooney told Fox Sports,.

“I did send her a message the other day to make sure she’s OK, she’s just one of those people you want to do well.

“It’s been a tough time for T-Mac … good to see her out the other side.”

Originally published as Ash Gardner blasted a maiden international century in Australia’s massive ODI sore in Hobart