Ash Gardner hits ton as Australia edge towards Women's Ashes series victory over England

01/17/2025 01:22 AM

• Third ODI: Australia, 308-8, beat England, 222, by 86 runs
• Third straight 50-over win gives hosts 6-0 lead heading into T20s

There was a sense of inevitability about the result of the third Ashes ODI, from the moment Ash Gardner decided she was going to pummel Sophie Ecclestone for six in her first over of the day. Gardner has been England's Ashes nemesis before – who can forget the 12 wickets she took in the 2023 Trent Bridge Test while nursing a finger injury?

Now, here she was, taking on England's best bowler just seconds after Heather Knight had brought her on. Australia might have been four wickets down in the first 15, following an underwhelming 180 all out on Tuesday, but Gardner saw Ecclestone coming, came down the track, and struck the ball sweetly over the top. Two hours later she was celebrating a first international hundred, and England were left requiring a record-breaking 309 to win.