Gardner explosive ton sinks Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney

While also starring with the bat in Sydney Sixers' crushing 87-run victory over Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval, Captain Ashleigh Gardner played one of the most breathtaking innings in WBBL history.

In the third over, the Sixers were 6 for 3, but Gardner (124 off 60 balls) and England's Alice Capsey (54* off 40) put together a massive 176-run fourth-wicket stand. Gardner's dismissal triggered a late collapse, with Sixers losing 5 for 7, but they finished at 196 for 8.

After Brisbane Heat scored 178 for 5 in Sunday's doubleheader, Sydney Thunder reached their target with six wickets and 20 balls remaining, setting a new WBBL innings record.

Hurricanes, the defending champions, were never in contention after falling to 26 for 5 in the eighth over and could only muster 109 runs in response to the Sixers' massive total. Sixers improved to 2-0 while they fell to 0-2 overall.

She belted ten fours and nine sixes, the majority of which were over the leg-side boundary, and her ball-striking was of the highest order.

After scoring her second WBBL century and highest T20 score, Gardner told Seven, Fox, and Kayo, "I felt like this is a really good wicket." "The start probably didn't show that, but I just think if you gave yourself a chance, there was certainly plenty of runs to be scored out there."

Along with highly regarded 17-year-old quick Caoimhe Bray, spinner Gardner (3 for 22) also made a significant contribution with the ball to destabilize the Hurricanes. They went 5 for 9 in 20 balls, starting with impressive Bray's dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu and Rachel Trenaman in her third over, who was 2 for 14.

Gardner struck with her first delivery, trapping the dangerous Lizelle Lee, and five deliveries later, she bowled the opposing captain, Nicola Carey. She came back to bowl Chenille Henry, who got 32 out of 20 balls. Maddy Green, who got 42 out of 33 balls, was the only other Hurricanes batter who put up a fight.

In a previous WBBL game, only Grace Harris had scored a century and taken at least three wickets. Melie Kerr, a spinner, destroyed the tail with three for 25.