Sports · Cricket · 8 hrs ago
Gardner and 17-year-old Bray lead Sixers to Sydney Smash win
The Sydney Sixers beat the Sydney Thunder by nine runs in a rain-shortened Women’s Big Bash League match at North Sydney Oval.
The game was reduced to 16 overs per side, and the Sixers made 162 for two, led by Ash Gardner’s unbeaten 64 from 25 balls and Ellyse Perry’s 59 not out.
Gardner came in after the Sixers retired Melie Kerr, who had scored 14 from 17 balls, to make room for a faster-scoring batter.
Seventeen-year-old Caoimhe Bray took four wickets as the Thunder were bowled out for 158 in 15.3 overs.
Bray also helped keep a boundary catch in play, while teammate Sarah Coyte was officially credited with the catch.
The win kept the Sixers unbeaten at 4-0, while the Thunder moved to 2-2.
The Sixers next face the Renegades in Melbourne on Thursday, and the Thunder play the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday.
The Sydney Sixers beat the Sydney Thunder by nine runs on the DLS method in the Sydney Smash.
Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten 64 from 25 balls as the Sixers made 162 for two in a rain-reduced 16-over innings.
Seventeen-year-old Caoimhe Bray took four wickets for 28 runs and helped restrict the Thunder to 158.
Bray also helped complete a boundary-line catch described by Fox Cricket as the catch of the season.
The Sixers remained unbeaten after starting the season with four wins, while the Thunder moved to two wins and two losses.
- Who
- The Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, in a Women’s Big Bash League match.
- What
- The Sixers won the Sydney Smash by nine runs under the DLS method.
- When
- Sunday, 8 November 2026.
- Where
- North Sydney Oval, Sydney.
- Why
- Gardner’s batting and Bray’s bowling helped the Sixers set and defend their total.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rain interrupted play and the match was reduced from 19 overs to 16.
Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten 64 from 25 balls as the Sixers made 162 for two.
Caoimhe Bray took four wickets for 28 runs as the Thunder were bowled out for 158 in 15.3 overs.
- Sixers total
- 162 for two in 16 overs
- Thunder total
- 158 all out in 15.3 overs
- Victory margin
- Nine runs on the DLS method
- Ashleigh Gardner
- 64 not out from 25 balls
- Caoimhe Bray
- 4 wickets for 28 runs
- Season records
- Sixers 4-0; Thunder 2-2
3 sources
What people are saying
No way... Caoimhe Bray is having the day of her life out there.
She’s an incredible athlete but this is next level.
Posts on X
NO WAY, CAOIMHE BRAY! That's got to be the catch of #WBBL12 🙌