Gardner mows down Poms

Wet wickets, no cricket

EMERGING all-rounder Ash Gardner has helped lift Australia to a final-over ODI win in the women’s Ashes cricket series opener in Brisbane.

Chasing 229 for victory over England at Allan Border Field yesterday, the 20-year-old provided the late hitting required to seal a two-wicket triumph.

Gardner blasted 27 off 18 balls – including two sixes – after earlier taking 3-47 with her off-spin.

The No.8 batter joined vicecaptain Alex Blackwell (67 not out) at the crease needing 48 runs in fewer balls.

Her innings got the Australians in the box seat before she departed with only nine runs required for the win.

Despite some nervous moments, Australia prevailed with five balls to spare.

The win gives Australia two points in the multi-format Ashes series, with two more ODIs, a Test and three T20s remaining. Test wins are worth four points, while two points are awarded for a Test draw and short-format victories. THEIR match may only have lasted 18 overs but Burleigh showed enough to suggest they are genuine contenders for this year’s Cricket Gold Coast finals after their raininterrupted clash against defending premiers Queens.

Saturday’s deluge meant the match was abandoned after just 18.2 overs but Burleigh claimed four scalps in that time – although Aaron Brook was run out – to enhance their claims of being able to mix it with the competition’s heavyweights.

The clash at Greg Chaplin Oval was the only Kookaburra Cup clash to start on Saturday.

Play did not resume in the Gold Coast Dolphins’ Queensland Premier Grade match against Western Suburbs.