WBBL 2022: Gardner, Peterson help Sydney Sixers beat rivals Sydney Thunder by 18 runs

Sixers defeated their arch-rivals [Source: Twitter]

Match 51 of the ongoing Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 2022 between inter-city rivals, Sydney Sixers piped Sydney Thunder by 18 runs, thanks to an impressive show by Ashleigh Gardner and Kate Peterson.

Sixers will finish WBBL 08 as table-toppers, while Thunder are languishing at the bottom. 

Ashleigh Gardner goes BOOM BOOM!

Asked to bat, the Sixers were off to a poor start, losing both their openers Suzie Bates and Alyssa Healy cheaply. Yet again, skipper Elyse Perry took control of their dwindling innings and snitched a 59-run stand along with Ashleigh Gardner.

Perry perished for a quick 30-ball 45. Gardner stood strong for her side despite losing the star from the last match, Erin Burns.

She found support in Nicole Bolton and went on to notch her 12th WBBL fifty.

Thunder's stand-out bowler, Sam Bates, had the last laugh, cleaning up Gardner for 85, who became her third wicket of the match.

The Sixers finished with 178 for 6, with Nicole Bolton left stranded in the middle on 24.

Kate Peterson 3-for derails Thunder

Chasing 178, Tammy Beaumont and Phoebe Litchfield came out all guns blazing. Beaumont, in particular, tore apart the Sixers' bowling attack. The pair added 50 runs in just 5 overs, winning the fight for supremacy in the first PowerPlay. 

Beaumont quickly reached her sixth WBBL fifty but found herself bowled by fellow England teammate Sophie Eccelstone on 51. One wicket led to another as Gardner got the better of Litchfield, who fell for 30.

With the required net run-rate ever rising, Amy Jones tried to up the ante but failed, handing Kate Peterson her first wicket. Soon after, Peterson claimed wickets off consecutive deliveries to peg the Thunder down even further in their chase. 

Skipper Rachael Haynes and Sammy-Jo Johnson tried their level best, adding 31, out of which the latter scored 18 in 14 deliveries.

With 28 needed off the last over, Ecclestone gave away just nine runs, as Haynes and Lauren Smith remained unbeaten on 29 and 1* respectively, with the Thunder losing by 18 runs. 

​Brief Scores

Sydney Sixers 178 - 6 (20)

Ashleigh Gardner 85 (48), Elyse Perry 45 (30);

Sam Bates 3-21 (4), Sammy-Jo Johnson 1-33 (4)

Sydney Thunder 160 - 7 (20)

Tammy Beaumont 51 (32), Phoebe Litchfield 30 (21);

Kate Peterson 3-27 (4), Sophie Ecclestone 2-28 (4)

Sydney Sixers won by 18 runs.

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