Ash Gardner's best T20I batting display in more than six years set the foundation for Australia to retain the Rose Bowl in Tuesday's game two win over New Zealand.

Gardner destructive display saw her compile 84 off 45 deliveries at North Sydney Oval to steady the home side's innings after some modest contributions towards the top of the order

Following a two-wicket win on Sunday, Australia claimed the series with a 40 run victory on Tuesday evening.

Gardner's score was her best in the format since a career-high 93 against India at Naarm's Junction Oval in February 2020.

She hit 14 boundaries, including four sixes, during her innings.

Gardner entered the crease with Australia 3-41 runs when Ellyse Perry holed out for 11.

Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield had earlier departed for nought and seven respectively, with opener Beth Mooney remaining at the crease on her way to a better than run-a-ball 39.

Gardner and Mooney put on a 60-run stand to see Australia past 100 runs in the 13th over, the Muruwari allrounder continuing on to go well past her 10th T20 international half century before being run out pushing for an extra run on the final ball of the innings.

She brought her 50 up in just 29 balls.

"Whenever I walk out onto the field for this team, I always want to put them in a winning position. And for me tonight, it was to be able to you know go big rather than just throw away the innings that I'd set up. I just felt like things were working today," Gardner said.

WHACK 💥 Gardner sends Jess Kerr a long way over the rope #AUSvNZ https://t.co/zD6fSFzMxC

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 20, 2026

Australia posted 7-167, with Gardner claiming a pair of wickets in New Zealand's unsuccessful chase.

The vice-skipper ended White Ferns captain and no.3 Melie Kerr's night for 33 for her first of two wickets, caught by Georgia Wareham in the deep.

The visitors shared their runs, Kerr their top scorer, however they fell well short of the the target score, ending 8-127.

Wareham had a busy night in the second innings, taking three wickets, two catches — the second Gardner's removal of Jess Kerr for 7, again in the deep — and getting a fortunate run out when the ball deflected from her hand during her second over to catch non-striker Maddy Green short of her crease.

It's a solid opportunity taken for Gardner ahead of a December tour to Sri Lanka for three ODIs, before New Zealand return across the Tasman for 50 over matches in March.

Gardner wasn't required to bat in any of three ODIs against Bangladesh earlier this month.

She took three wickets across that series.

"I feel like I perform better when you know we're in a bit of trouble because you got more time to bat," Gardner said post-match, adding a strong batting line up gives the confident to play with freedom.

A positive mindset and being proactive, particularly early in the innings, put her in the position to put on runs, Gardner added.

Australia play New Zealand in the third T20 again at North Sydney Oval on Thursday evening.