Australia dealt a harsh blow as star all-rounder Ash Gardner sidelined for three-match series against Kiwis

Ash Gardner, the Australian all-rounder, has been sidelined for the remainder of the New Zealand series after sustaining a fracture in her right index finger.

The injury occurred during the 17th over when Gardner, after only bowling 14 deliveries, tried to take a return catch from Sophie Devine.

On Saturday, Cricket Australia announced that the 27-year-old will undergo additional scans and consult with specialists once she returns to Sydney.

In her absence, Queensland and Brisbane Heat all-rounder Charli Knott has been brought into the squad as her replacement for the team’s second of three T20I matches.

While Gardner’s absence is a significant setback for the Australians, her skills weren’t necessary for the team’s successful pursuit of 138 runs on Friday.

Beth Mooney, a consistent performer for Australia across countless run chases and now with 200 international caps, starred with the bat, leading her side to victory.

The Australians successfully chased a target of 137 runs with 39 balls to spare, achieving an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park, making the occasion particularly special for Mooney.

Mooney scored an impressive 75 off just 42 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six while also contributing with a catch behind the stumps, resulting in her being named player of the match.

Her opening partner, Georgia Voll, also played a significant role by scoring 50 off 31 deliveries, which included nine boundaries.

The match concluded in the 14th over when Mooney elegantly drove the ball through cover for four off fast bowler Rosemary Mair, sealing the win with style.

This stunning shot followed an earlier display of power-hitting where Mooney struck a six over long-on off bowler Lea Tahuhu.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand managed to post a total of 137 runs before their innings ended, with Australian bowlers Darcie Brown and Tahlia McGrath responding effectively.

After the match, Mooney reflected on how her team would celebrate the victory and her milestone match.

“The staff and the girls prepared a few speeches for me in our team meeting yesterday and put together a video featuring some of my close friends and family back home offering some lovely messages,” Mooney shared with TVNZ.

“I feel quite fortunate and appreciated in this Australian line-up to have been afforded the opportunity to play in my 200th game.”

“I suppose it just highlights that I’m getting a bit older and I’ve done 200 warm-ups, so I’d ideally like to have a few less ahead of me.”

As the runs flowed, Mooney noted that she and Voll quickly found their rhythm.

“A few shots came off the middle of the bat early in my innings and out of Georgia’s bat as well, which gave us a terrific start,” she explained.

“Sometimes when you’re on a bit of a roll with the bat, accelerating the run rate happens organically. It can be tough to stop when batters are in full flow, which we found during the power play. We ended up scoring over 70 runs in the power play, which I think is quite remarkable.”

The second match of the three T20 series is set to take place at Mount Maunganui on Sunday, with the series concluding in Wellington next Wednesday.