Ashleigh Gardner lit up the Kotambi Stadium with a breathtaking display of power-hitting, smashing a hat-trick of sixes that left the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowlers in the opening clash of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. The Gujarat Giants’ captain played a sensational knock, bringing up her half-century in just 25 balls at a stunning strike rate of 200.
Watch: Gardner’s hat-trick of sixes in RCB vs GG WPL clash
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 14, 2025
#GG captain Ashleigh Gardner flexing her muscles with a hat-trick of sixes
She also brings up her FIFTY off just 25 deliveries.
Livehttps://t.co/jjI6oXJcBI #TATAWPL | #GGvRCB pic.twitter.com/1bRXNJ3Bep
Gardner’s onslaught began in the 13th over when she decided to take Prema Rawat to the cleaners. On the third delivery of the over, Gardner stepped down the track and launched a full-length ball over the long-off boundary. She followed it up with another monstrous hit over midwicket before sealing the hat-trick of sixes with a powerful pull shot over the square-leg fence. The RCB faithful, who had been vocal in support of their team, were left stunned into silence as Gardner dismantled their bowling attack with sheer dominance.
Gardner decimates RCB
It was indeed a captain’s knock by Gardner, who hammered 79* off just 39. She was the main reason why Gujarat Giants managed to post 201/5 in the opening clash of the season. She claimed three fours and eight sixes, which is the joint most by a player in an innings in WPL. It is some sort of a payback as it was Sophie Dunkley, who also notched up 8 sixes against Gujarat themselves in 2023.
