Ash Gardner has struck the equal second fastest half-century in WBBL history before Caoimhe Bray took a catch for the ages as the Sydney Sixers pulled off a nine-run win over rivals Sydney Thunder.
And in the second match of Sunday's double header at North Sydney Oval, the Perth Scorchers improved their record to 4-0 with a six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars.
Gardner (64no off 25 balls) and Ellyse Perry (59no off 41) combined for an unbeaten 107-run partnership to power the Sixers to 2-162 off 16 overs in their rain-reduced encounter against the Thunder.
Chasing 168 for victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, the Thunder fought bravely before being bowled out for 158 with three balls remaining.
Sixers teenager Caoimhe Bray starred with the ball, the rising pace ace snaring 4-28.
But it was the 17-year-old's remarkable catch late in the match that is set to be played for years to come.
Jemma Barsby's heave looked set to be a six before an airborne Bray jumped over the rope to take an Aussie Rules-style mark before tossing the ball back in for teammate Lauren Cheatle to complete the catch.
"If Cheats wasn't there, I probably could have made it look less mayo-ny," Bray told Fox Sports.
"She followed me and did the job well. We work on that a lot at training at the Sixers, and at the NSW Breakers.
"It's definitely something I've been practising at training, so glad to see it worked out in a game."
The result improved the Sixers' record to a perfect 4-0, while the Thunder are now 2-2.
Gardner was the key player with the bat, but the Thunder only had themselves to blame.
The Sixers were cruising at 1-65 after nine overs when heavy rain hit.
It proved a blessing for the Sixers, who made the bold decision to retire Melie Kerr (14 off 17 balls) so they could bring Gardner to the crease once play resumed.
Gardner should have been dismissed first ball, only for Laura Harris to drop a regulation catch at backward point.
The missed chance proved costly as Gardner cracked five fours and four sixes to bring up her half-century in just 18 balls, ironically matching the 2018 effort from Harris.
Back-to-back sixes 💥 💥 Ash Gardner is finding her groove at North Sydney Oval! #WBBL12 https://t.co/STW5e3W1g1
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 8, 2026
The fastest half-century in WBBL history remains the 16-ball feat from Tess Flintoff in the Melbourne Stars' win over Adelaide in 2022.
Harris looked determined to make up for her dropped catch, racing to 35 off eight balls to give the Thunder a legitimate chance of pulling off victory.
But when Bray claimed the prized scalp of Harris (35 off 10) in the 11th over before her catch to dismiss Barsby, it put the Sixers back in the box seat.
In Sunday's second match, Meg Lanning made 56 off 46 balls but the rest of her team struggled as the Stars were restricted to 6-136.
Ridiculous. Sophie Devine has just hit 50 off 21 balls in 17 minutes. #WBBL12 https://t.co/FGeqq58D1u
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 8, 2026
Sophie Devine (2-18) and Amy Edgar (2-33) snared two wickets apiece for the Scorchers, while spinner Alana King was at her economical best on the way to 0-12 from four overs.
Perth cruised to the victory target with a whopping 30 balls to spare on the back of player-of-the-match Devine's 55 off 24 balls.
The result left the Stars nursing a 1-4 record and facing an uphill battle to reach the finals.
Australian Associated Press
