Women’s WC: Ashleigh Gardner scripts these records with 77-ball hundred
**Ashleigh Gardner Makes History with Record-Breaking Century in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 02, 2025, 10:57 am*
Australian cricketer Ashleigh Gardner has etched her name in the record books by becoming the first player to score a century after batting at No. 6 or lower in an ICC Women’s ODI World Cup match. This historic feat occurred during Australia’s second match of the ongoing ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 against New Zealand in Indore on Wednesday.
### Gardner’s Record-Breaking Century
Coming out to bat at No. 6, Gardner reached her century in just 77 balls. She achieved this milestone with a boundary—a four off New Zealand captain Sophie Devine—on the very first ball of the 46th over.
Gardner’s innings of 115 runs off 83 balls, which included 16 fours and a six, was pivotal in lifting Australia from a precarious 128/5 in 21.2 overs to a formidable total of 326 all out in their allotted overs. Her explosive knock played a crucial role in setting a challenging target for New Zealand.
### Valuable Partnerships
Throughout her innings, Gardner built important partnerships with her teammates that helped stabilize and boost the Australian innings:
– A 64-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Tahlia McGrath (26)
– A 47-run stand for the seventh wicket with Sophie Molineux (14)
– A massive 69-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Kim Garth (38)
Notably, the last partnership is now the second-highest for Australia Women at this stage in ODI World Cups.
### Dismissal Details
Gardner’s impressive innings came to an end when she was dismissed by Bree Illing on the third ball of the 47th over. The catch was taken by Isabella Gaze. Despite her dismissal, Gardner’s historic knock not only helped Australia post a competitive total but also marked her as the first cricketer to score a century from No. 6 or lower in Women’s ODI World Cup history.
In the end, New Zealand fell short by 89 runs, with only captain Sophie Devine offering a lone effort, scoring a century herself.
### Third-Fastest Century in Women’s World Cups
Gardner’s century, reached off just 77 deliveries, is the third-fastest in the history of the Women’s ODI World Cup tournaments and the fastest by an Australian batter. She trails only Deandra Dottin (71 balls vs Pakistan, 2017) and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt (76 balls vs Pakistan, 2017) on this list.
### Twin Hundreds at No. 6 or Lower
Gardner’s 115 is now the highest individual score in Women’s ODIs while batting at No. 6 or lower. This century also marks her second WODI hundred at number six — her previous hundred was 102 against England in Hobart earlier this year. No other batter in Women’s ODIs has multiple centuries from this batting position.
Only two other players, West Indies’ Shemaine Campbelle and South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen, have scored centuries at No. 6 or lower in Women’s ODIs.
### Gardner’s Overall WODI Stats
– Matches: 81
– Runs: 1,441
– Batting Average: 30.65
– Strike Rate: 109.08
– Hundreds: 2
– Half-centuries: 7
Besides being a strong batter, Gardner is also an effective off-spin bowler with impressive stats:
– Wickets: 104
– Bowling Average: 22.51
– Five-wicket hauls: 1
Ashleigh Gardner’s all-round performance continues to be a significant asset for Australia’s Women’s cricket team, and her record-breaking feats in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup only add more glory to her cricketing career.
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