Australia’s all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner delivered a mesmerizing display of skill and talent as she claimed eight wickets in England’s second innings, propelling her side to a resounding victory in the one-off Test of the multi-format series. Gardner’s remarkable performance not only secured the win for Australia but also etched her name in the record books, achieving the second-best innings and match figures ever recorded in a Women’s Test.
Heading into the fifth day of the Test match, England required 152 runs with five wickets remaining to secure victory. However, they were met with fierce resistance from the relentless Gardner. The 26-year-old all-rounder proved to be unstoppable as she decimated England’s batting lineup.
In a ruthless display of bowling prowess, Gardner claimed all five remaining wickets before lunch, effectively wrapping up an emphatic 89-run triumph for Australia. Her incredible figures of 8/66 in the innings added to her earlier performance of 4/99 in the match.
With her extraordinary feat, Gardner joined a unique list, becoming only the second woman in history to take eight wickets in a Test innings. The first was Neetu David of India, who achieved the same feat with figures of 8/53 against England in 1995.
Gardner’s match figures of 12/165 also secured her a place among the best in the history of women’s Test cricket. Her impressive numbers trail only Shaiza Khan’s 13/226 for Pakistan against West Indies in 2004.
Australian women to have taken 12 wickets in a Test match and eight in an innings:
Ashleigh Gardner#Ashes pic.twitter.com/La2GzU4YAL
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 26, 2023
Gardner’s record-breaking display also serves as a testament to the continuous growth and evolution of women’s cricket, captivating audiences worldwide and inspiring future generations of players.
"I wouldn't have dreamt of it to be honest!" 💭
"It was just awesome to be able to put a performance on for the team!" 🥳
Just the 1️⃣2️⃣ wickets for player of the match Ash Gardner! 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/LUgF7DssZj
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 26, 2023
