Ashleigh Gardner Creates History, Becomes The Batter To Score… | Cricket News

Ashleigh Gardner scored her second hundred of the tournament (Picture credit: AP)

Star Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner on Wednesday created history to score the fastest hundred ever in a Women’s World Cup, in terms of balls faced, after she brought up the milestone in 69 deliveries, going past Deandra Dottin’s eight-year-old record.

After opting to bowl, Australia’s attack, led by Annabel Sutherland (3/60), Gardner (2/39), Sophie Molineux (2/52) and Alana King (1/20), restricted England to a modest 244/9 despite Tammy Beaumont’s steady 79 off 108 deliveries.

Sutherland (98*) capped a brilliant day by steadying Australia’s chase, rescuing them from a shaky start and guiding the side home alongside Gardner (104*), whose fluent strokeplay was the perfect complement.

Gardner brought up her century in the 40th over of the chase, as she smacked Lauren Bell for a boundary to reach the milestone. This was her second hundred in the ongoing World Cup, with both having been scored at Indore.

Gardner went past Dottin’s record of the fastest hundred in an ODI World Cup. The latter had scored a century off 71 balls against Pakistan in Leicester in 2017.

Fastest century in Women’s ODI World Cup (by deliveries)

69 – Ashleigh Gardner vs England, Indore, 2025*

71 – Deandra Dottin vs Pakistan, Leicester, 2017

73 – Alyssa Healy vs Bangladesh, Vizag, 2025

76 – Nat Sciver-Brunt vs Pakistan, Leicester, 2017

77 – Ashleigh Gardner vs New Zealand, Indore, 2025

Healy’s hundred came in the last match that she featured in, but she couldn’t play against arch-rivals England due to a minor calf strain.

On Wednesday, Beth Mooney (20) steadied the innings with a 44-run partnership alongside Sutherland before Gardner joined the 24-year-old all-rounder and the pair dominated with fours to spare, sealing the win with 57 deliveries remaining.

Earlier, Tammy Beaumont gave England a strong start, while Alice Capsey (38) and Charlie Dean (26) added a crucial 61-run stand late in the innings, though England succumbed to another familiar collapse.

But King demonstrated why she remains one of the most skilful wrist spinners in the game.