An unbeaten century from Ash Gardner has guided Australia to yet another comprehensive victory at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Up against rivals England at Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium, Gardner plundered 104* from just 73 balls to keep Australia undefeated with five wins at the tournament.
After Australia slumped to 4/68 in pursuit of England's 9/244, Gardner combined with fellow allrounder Annabel Sutherland (98* from 112) to put on an unbeaten 180 for the fifth wicket.
The 28-year-old started her innings modestly, taking 47 balls to reach her half-century before exploding to score her next fifty from just 22 deliveries.
Striking 16 boundaries in her innings, the Muruwari woman was so dominant against a deflated England attack that after reaching three figures from just 69 balls, she blocked the next three deliveries in an attempt to allow Sutherland, then on 95, to reach her century too.
However it didn't work out, with a weary Sutherland managing to score three runs the following over before losing the strike and telling Gardner to finish the job.
"I'm happy she got it done," Sutherland said of Gardner, whose 98 off 112 balls had her hailed as "such a gun" by admiring captain McGrath.
Gardner and Sutherland's combined performance saw Australia sail to victory with more than nine overs to spare, their partnership becoming Australia's highest ever fifth-wicket stand in women's ODIs.
Earlier in the match Australia restricted England on the back of economical spells from Gardner (2/39 from 9) and Alana King (1/20 from 10), with Sophie Molineux (2/52) also in the wickets.
Opener Tammy Beaumont (78 from 105), was England's best and only batter to surpass 50.
Sutherland picked up Player of the Match honours for her 3/60 to go along with an unbeaten 98.
Gardner's century is her second of the tournament after she put New Zealand's attack to the sword in similar fashion at the same ground earlier this month.
The win returns Australia to the top of the table a week out from the tournament's semi-final stage.
Australia next play South Africa, who are on a hot streak of their own having won five straight games, in their final round match on Saturday.
With AAP
