Ashleigh Gardner’s match-defining 104* from 73 balls, alongside Annabel Sutherland’s near-century of 98*, propelled Australia to a six-wicket victory over England in Indore, securing their return to the top of the standings. Earlier, the pair had contributed five wickets between them to limit England to 244/9. They then forged an unbroken 180-run partnership—the second-highest for the fifth wicket or lower in women’s ODI history—to chase down the target in just 40.3 overs.
Tammy Beaumont leads England to a figting total
Australia’s stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath opted to bowl first in Alyssa Healy’s absence, but England made a strong start. Tammy Beaumont wasted no time, finding the boundary off Megan Schutt and following it up with a six and a four against Kim Garth. Amy Jones, cautious at the beginning, soon shifted gears with three boundaries in an over off Schutt. Beaumont’s fluent strokeplay continued as England surged to 50 within eight overs. Annabel Sutherland provided the breakthrough, dismissing Jones with a delivery that nipped back, while Sophie Molineux trapped Heather Knight to curb England’s momentum.
Beaumont continued to anchor the innings, reaching her half-century with composed batting. However, England suffered another setback when captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s attempt at a big shot off Alana King ended in her dismissal, leaving them at 105 for 3. A steady partnership between Sophia Dunkley and Beaumont added 42 runs, but Sutherland again turned the tide by removing Beaumont for a well-made 78 and then claiming Emma Lamb soon after. Gardner further dented England’s progress by dismissing Dunkley as England slipped to 166 for 6 in the 40th over.
The lower order provided a late spark through Charlie Dean and Alice Capsey, who put on an energetic 61-run stand for the seventh wicket, striking eight boundaries between them. Their partnership gave England brief hope, but both departed in quick succession — Capsey trapped by Molineux and Dean caught off Gardner. Sophie Ecclestone added two late boundaries, pushing England close to 250, but their total ultimately fell short as Australia chased it down comfortably for a commanding victory.
The Ashleigh Gardner show
Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start as Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith delivered early blows. Phoebe Litchfield fell to a superb wobble-seam delivery from Bell, while Georgia Voll was bowled trying to play a slogsweep against Smith. After striking three boundaries, Ellyse Perry handed a simple return catch to Smith, leaving Australia struggling at 24 for 3. Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland offered some resistance, putting on 44 runs, but Sophie Ecclestone ended the stand with a short ball that Mooney pulled straight to midwicket.
A barren spell without a boundary followed, lasting 28 balls, before Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner broke free in the 21st over off Charlie Dean. Sutherland smashed the innings’ only six with a powerful sweep and brought up her half-century with a boundary off Dean. Gardner kept the momentum going, reaching her fifty from 47 balls with a four off Nat Sciver-Brunt and adding two more boundaries soon after. She later dominated Alice Capsey’s over with three consecutive fours, driving Australia’s total past 200 in the 36th over.
With the target in sight, Gardner and Sutherland continued to entertain. Gardner overtook Sutherland, who was on 91, by striking three fours in a single Ecclestone over. She then brought up her third ODI century—and her second of this World Cup—with an edge for four off Bell, completing the milestone in just 69 balls to set a new record for the fastest Women’s World Cup hundred, surpassing Deandra Dottin’s 71-ball effort in 2017. Sutherland, after being dropped by Heather Knight, advanced to 98 before Gardner sealed the win in style with her 16th boundary, leaving Sutherland unbeaten just shy of a hundred.
Scorecard: England 244/9 in 50 overs (Tammy Beaumont 78, Alice Capsey 38; Annabel Sutherland 3-60, Ashleigh Gardner 2-39) lost to Australia 248/4 in 40.3 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 104*, Annabel Sutherland 98*; Linsey Smith 2-43) by 6 wickets.