Sydney Sixers captain Ashleigh Gardner delivered a remarkable all-round performance to lead her team to an emphatic 87-run victory over defending champions Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 at Drummoyne Oval on November 1. Gardner struck a sensational 124 off 60 balls after the Sixers had collapsed to 6 for 3, before claiming three wickets to complete one of the competition’s most impressive individual displays.
Gardner combined with England international Alice Capsey, who remained unbeaten on 54, to rescue the Sixers through a fourth-wicket partnership of 176 runs. Their efforts helped the hosts post 196 for 8 despite a dramatic late collapse. Hobart struggled throughout the chase and were dismissed for 109 in 17.4 overs, handing Sydney their second consecutive victory of the season.
The result lifted the Sixers to two wins from two matches, while the Hurricanes suffered their second defeat in as many games.
Gardner and Capsey Rescue Sixers From 6/3
Sydney Sixers endured a disastrous start after losing their first three wickets for just six runs inside the opening three overs. Hobart’s bowlers appeared to have taken complete control, but Gardner and Capsey responded with an extraordinary counterattack that transformed the innings.
Gardner dominated the partnership with aggressive strokeplay, repeatedly targeting the leg-side boundary. She struck 10 fours and nine sixes during her 60-ball innings, reaching her century in just 51 deliveries. It was her second WBBL hundred and the highest individual score of her T20 career.
Capsey provided crucial support with an unbeaten 54 from 40 balls, allowing Gardner to maintain the pressure on Hobart’s bowlers. Together, they added 176 runs from just 91 deliveries for the fourth wicket, lifting Sydney from 6 for 3 to 182 for 4. The partnership ended when Gardner was dismissed in the 18th over, leaving Capsey to finish the innings unbeaten.
Speaking after the match, Gardner explained that she believed the pitch offered plenty of scoring opportunities despite the difficult start.
“I felt like this is a really good wicket,” Gardner told Seven, Fox and Kayo. “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.”
Gardner’s dismissal to Heather Graham triggered another collapse. Sydney lost five wickets for just seven runs, slipping from 182 for 3 to 189 for 8 before finishing on 196 for 8.
Nicola Carey was Hobart’s most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 31, while Chinelle Henry claimed 2 for 8. However, the damage inflicted by Gardner and Capsey had already placed Sydney in a commanding position.
Hurricanes Collapse to 26/5 in Difficult Chase
Hobart Hurricanes needed a strong start to challenge the Sixers’ imposing total, but their top order collapsed under pressure from Sydney’s bowling attack.
Seventeen-year-old fast bowler Caoimhe Bray provided the early breakthroughs, dismissing Chamari Athapaththu and Rachel Trenaman in her third over. Gardner then made an immediate impact with her off-spin, removing the dangerous Lizelle Lee with her first delivery before bowling opposing captain Nicola Carey five balls later.
Hobart slumped to 26 for 5 in the eighth over, leaving their chase in serious trouble.
Chinelle Henry and Maddy Green attempted to rebuild the innings through a 58-run partnership. Henry scored 32 off 20 balls, while Green contributed an unbeaten 42 from 33 deliveries, but the required scoring rate continued to rise.
Gardner returned to dismiss Henry, ending Hobart’s most productive partnership and effectively removing any realistic prospect of a comeback.
Amelia Kerr then claimed three wickets to finish with 3 for 25, while Bray completed an impressive spell of 2 for 14. Gardner ended with three wickets of her own as the Hurricanes were bowled out for 109 in 17.4 overs.
Gardner Joins Rare WBBL All-Round Club
Gardner’s performance was significant not only for the scale of her century but also for her contribution with the ball. She became only the second player in WBBL history to score a century and take at least three wickets in the same match, joining Brisbane Heat all-rounder Grace Harris.
Her 124 also surpassed her previous highest T20 score, while the partnership with Capsey demonstrated the Sixers’ ability to recover from an extremely difficult position.
With the top three dismissed for single-digit scores, Sydney relied heavily on Gardner’s attacking innings and Capsey’s support. Their 176-run stand accounted for almost 90% of the Sixers’ final total, turning an early collapse into a match-winning position.
Sixers Maintain Perfect Start as Hurricanes Remain Winless
The victory continued Sydney Sixers’ strong start to WBBL 2026, giving them two wins from their opening two matches. Gardner’s captaincy and all-round contribution were central to the result, while Capsey’s composed half-century and Bray’s early wickets highlighted the team’s depth.
For Hobart Hurricanes, the defeat raised concerns about their batting after a second consecutive loss. Despite Carey’s three wickets and the resistance shown by Green and Henry, the defending champions were unable to recover from their top-order collapse.
The Sixers, meanwhile, demonstrated their ability to win convincingly even after a disastrous start with the bat. Gardner’s extraordinary innings turned a potentially match-losing position into a commanding total, and her bowling ensured Hobart never threatened to complete the chase.
Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes: Match Summary
| Match detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Women’s Big Bash League 2026 |
| Date | November 1, 2026 |
| Venue | Drummoyne Oval, Sydney |
| Sydney Sixers | 196/8 (20 overs) |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 109 all out (17.4 overs) |
| Result | Sydney Sixers won by 87 runs |
| Top scorer | Ashleigh Gardner – 124 (60) |
| Other key batter | Alice Capsey – 54* (40) |
| Fourth-wicket partnership | Gardner and Capsey – 176 runs |
| Hurricanes’ top scorer | Maddy Green – 42* (33) |
| Key bowling figures | Amelia Kerr – 3/25; Caoimhe Bray – 2/14 |
| Standout performance | Ashleigh Gardner – 124 and three wickets |
