Gardner's 124 diffuses Hurricanes as Sixers script stunning comeback win

Captain Ashleigh Gardner produced one of the most breathtaking innings in WBBL history while also starring with the ball in Sydney Sixers' crushing 87-run win over Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval.

Sixers were reeling at 6 for 3 in the third over, but Gardner (124 off 60 balls) and England's Alice Capsey (54* off 40) put on a mammoth fourth-wicket stand of 176. Gardner's dismissal triggered a late collapse, with Sixers losing 5 for 7, but they finished at 196 for 8.

It was the third straight WBBL innings record score in Sunday's double-header, after Brisbane Heat made 178 for 5, and Sydney Thunder reached their target with six wickets and 20 balls to spare.

Defending champions Hurricanes could muster only 109 in response to Sixers' mammoth total, and were never in contention after slumping to 26 for 5 in the eighth over. They dropped to 0-2 for the season, and Sixers moved to 2-0.

Gardner's ball-striking was of the highest order as she belted ten fours and nine sixes - most of them over the leg-side boundary.

"I felt like this is a really good wicket," Gardner told Seven, Fox and Kayo, after hitting her second WBBL century and highest T20 score. "The start probably didn't show that, but I just think if you gave yourself a chance, there was certainly plenty of runs to be scored out there."

Spinner Gardner (3 for 22) also made a major contribution with the ball, and combined with highly regarded 17-year-old quick Caoimhe Bray to destabilise Hurricanes. They lost 5 for 9 in 20 balls, with the impressive Bray (2 for 14) starting the collapse by dismissing Chamari Athapaththu and Rachel Trenaman in her third over.

Gardner struck with her first ball, having the dangerous Lizelle Lee caught, and bowled opposing captain Nicola Carey five deliveries later. She returned to bowl Chenille Henry (32 off 20 balls), with Maddy Green (42 not out off 33), the only other Hurricanes batter to offer resistance.

Only Grace Harris had previously scored a century and taken at least three wickets in a WBBL game. Spinner Melie Kerr (3 for 25) swept through the tail.