Muruwari allrounder Ash Gardner has compiled a career-best with the bat to lift Australia to a convincing win over New Zealand to commence their title defence at the ICC Women's ODI World Cup.
Coming to the crease with her side 4/113, Gardner blasted 17 boundaries on the way to 115 (83) to set up the 89-run victory at Indore's Holkar Stadium.
The performance is Gardner's second international hundred after she notched her maiden ton for Australia in Hobart during last season's Ashes series.
Her innings becomes the third quickest century in women's world cup history, and first hit by an Indigenous player at the tournament.
"When I got out into the middle I had some pretty clear plans. Just to get myself in, stick to my strengths, but also just trying to score off as many balls as possible. We always knew that we needed a big total here," Gardner said after receiving Player of the Match.
The 28-year-old reached triple figures in just 77 balls.
Earlier in the innings, opener Phoebe Litchfield guided Australia to a solid start with 45 (31), alongside contributions from captain Alyssa Healy (19 from 17) and Ellyse Perry (33 from 41) at the top of the order.
However there was work to be done when Gardner arrived in the middle after Beth Mooney went for 12, with Annabel Sutherland exiting a short time later having only added five runs to Australia's total.
Tahlia McGrath (26 from 34) and Kim Garth (38 from 37) played solid lower order roles to ensure Australia posted a defendable total on the small ground.
"I'm just trying to keep my game as simple as possible," Gardner said, adding getting bat on ball regularly to cash in on boundary opportunities is her tactic to building a contribution at the crease.
"We have that confidence within our group that even if we are five for not too many, we have the players to come in and change the game.
"I kind of love coming into those pressure situations, just trying to take the game on, and I play the way that I do. Then hopefully the success comes with it."
In response, a century to New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine (112 from 112) wasn't enough to chase down Australia's total of 326.
Before their captain hit a century of her own, New Zealand couldn't have got off to a worse start.
Opening pair Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer were both dismissed without scoring.
No.3 Amelia Kerr (33 from 56) and New Zealand's middle order did their best to stage a fightback without another batter eclipsing 30 runs.
Sophie Molineux was the best of Australia's bowlers with 3-25 from 8.2 overs, with Sutherland also taking 3-fa in the contest.
Gardner finished wicketless with 0/47 from her six overs, with New Zealand eventually bowled out for 237 inside 44 overs.
The winning score of 326 was Australia's ninth largest women's ODI total, and third largest at an ODI women's World Cup.
Australia are chasing an eight title, while Gardner is chasing her second after three successes in the T20 World Cup format.
