Ash Gardner has produced her best performance with the bat in this season's Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) to steer the Sydney Sixers to victory over the Melbourne Stars, the win firming her team's chances of a spot in competition's finals.
Gardner smacked a quickfire half-century and took three wickets at Sydney's Drummoyne Oval on Wednesday, the 16-run win propelling the Sixers to equal second on the ladder alongside the Stars with a game in hand over the remainder of the top four.
The Muruwari allrounder's 50 from 31 balls was her highest score in the competition since October 2023, and helped stage a major turnaround to a massive 111-run (DLS) loss at the hands of the Stars less than a fortnight earlier.
After Gardner elected to bat Alyssa Healy and Sophia Dunkley moved the Sixers past 50 after Ellyse Perry was run out at the striker's end early in the match.
Gardner got her innings going driving through the off side - a one bounce four over mid-off bringing up 100 runs for the hosts in the 14th over.
After Dunkley departed for 41, Maitland Brown, Amelia Kerr and Mady Villiers chipped in after Gardner's exit, who was caught-and-bowled by Sophie Day in the 18th over.
The Australian allrounder and Sixers captain finished with eight boundaries to see Sydney post a competitive 5-164.
A fine 50 from Ash Gardner notching her first as Sixers skipper! 🩷 #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/qdPTpLIuyc
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 3, 2025
In response the Stars struggled early, losing two wickets in the opening two overs.
Sutherland was gone before Gardner sent Meg Lanning (8) back to the sheds with her first of three wickets, leaving the visitors reeling at 4-30.
The 28-year-old had a second when Kim Garth (17) departed after being caught at point, the wicket breaking an 80-run partnership with a rampant Maia Bouchier (67).
Viliers and Brown got involved with the ball before Gardner put the outcome beyond doubt when Georgia Prestwidge holed out to deep-ish cover in the final overs.
The Stars fell 16-runs short, ending 8-148 after their 20 overs.
It's the Sixers' third-straight win since their heavy loss to the Stars on November 20.
They move to five wins and two losses, with upcoming games against current bottom four sides, the Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers.
With a bonus point to their name, the Sixers remain a slim chance of jumping ladder-leaders Hobart Hurricanes before finals begin.
The Hurricanes sit on top with seven wins and one game to play against the Strikers.
In the WBBL, the top-placed side after the regular season progresses directly to a home final. Third and fourth then face each other in a sudden-death Knockout, the winner of which faces the second-placed side in The Challenger for a spot in The Final.
