Australia Women vs England Women: Ashleigh Gardner’s flawless chase gains victory

ISLAMABAD: In the 23rd ODI game of the Australia Women versus England Women, Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland guided a flawless chase to secure a crucial victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 tonight (Wednesday).

In the Australia Women vs England Women One Day International (ODI), England gave a massive 9-wicket, 244-run target after Australia Women chose to field first in the day.

Australia Batting Line

For Australia, top-scorers Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland provided supportive batting that continued unbeaten until the match ended.

During their chasing innings, Ashleigh registered 104 off 73 balls (featuring 16 fours) to mark the top score of the side against England Women. Annabel Sutherland also remained remarkable as she scored an undefeated 98 off 112 deliveries before finishing off the game against the Nat Sciver-Brunt side.

Australia Women began their chase against England Women by sending Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll to open.

But England Women destroyed the Australian opening pair as both Phoebe and Georgia scored only 1 and 6 respectively before falling to Bell and Smith.

This left the Australian batting under huge pressure as it was unbearable for them to lose yet another game of the global event at an unwanted time. They played six games in total, winning five, with one match abandoned without a ball bowled. Therefore, the Tahlia McGrath-led team was determined to chase the 244-run target at all costs.

Hence, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney stepped in but they too faced the stormy pressure that England pacers Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell had built earlier. However, the unbeaten Annabel and Ashleigh were so remarkable that they didn’t allow the opponent bowlers to dominate anymore, as both played havoc to chase the score.

England Batting Line

England Women’s batting lineup faltered against Australia despite Tammy Beaumont’s solid 78, with the rest of the top order failing to convert starts. Frequent breakthroughs by Sutherland and Gardner restricted England to a modest total, setting the tone for their eventual defeat.