Australia Women emerged victorious in the third ODI against England Womenconcluding a comprehensive 3-0 series victory. The match, played in a packed house, was marked by a sensational effort from Ashley Gardnerwhose brilliant century was followed by an incredible catch to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone has become the talk of the cricketing world.
Ashleigh Gardner’s stunning shot steals the show
The moment of the match came in England’s 41st innings when Alana King played at Ecclestone. The England batter attempted a difficult sweep, resulting in a towering top edge that flew towards mid-wicket. Gardner, positioned a few steps inside the boundary, initially misjudged the trajectory but quickly recovered.
What followed was pure athletic genius as Gardner demonstrated his exceptional skills on the field. She initially juggled the ball on the first attempt, but soon realized she was about to cross the boundary. Acting quickly, she sent the ball back into play to avoid conceding a six. In a remarkable display of agility and presence of mind, she followed up with a full front dive to complete a stunning catch that left fans and commentators in awe. This gymnastic feat not only resulted in Ecclestone’s dismissal, but also highlighted Gardner’s extraordinary defensive prowess.
Here is the video:
Outrageous stuff from Ashleigh Gardner! It’s an absolute stopwatch #Ashes #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/uVl7zsLR8p
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2025
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Australian batting power leads the way
The Australian Women led the way with an impressive batting performance after opting to bat first, posting an imposing total of 308/8. Gardner led the charge with a brilliant century, scoring 102 runs with powerful and precise shots. She was well supported by Tahlia McGrathwho regularly contributed 55 runs in the middle order, and Beth Mooneywho set the tone at the top with a solid 50.
England’s pursuit fails in the face of Alana King’s magic
In response, England Women struggled to achieve the lofty target. Despite the valiant efforts of Nat Sciver-Brunt (61) and Tammy Beaumont (54), their innings fell apart, managing just 222 runs in 42.2 overs. Alana was the standout player for Australia, delivering a match-winning performance with figures of 5 wickets for 46 runs in 8.2 overs. His ability to generate turns and deceive batters with variations proved too much for England, sealing a comprehensive victory for Australia.
Also READ: Women’s Ashes 2025: Ash Gardner and Alana King shine in Australia’s dominant win over England in 3rd ODI
This article was first published on FemmesCricket.coma Cricket Times Company.
