# AUS W vs NZ W: Ashleigh Gardner's 84 off 45 gives Australia 40-run win and 2-0 lead

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/aus-w-vs-nz-w-ashleigh-gardners-84-off-45-gives-australia-40-run-win-and-2-0)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 20 Oct 2026
Updated: 20 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 20 Oct 2026

> From 41 for 3, Gardner's 10 fours and four sixes took Australia to 167. Georgia Wareham's 3 for 18 then shut New Zealand out at North Sydney.

**Australia Women beat New Zealand Women by 40 runs in the second T20I at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday 20 October to go 2-0 up**, with **Ashleigh Gardner** hitting 84 off 45 balls and then taking 2 for 17, [ESPNcricinfo's scorecard](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-in-australia-2026-27-1528690/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-2nd-t20i-1528723/full-scorecard) shows. Australia made 167 for 7 and held New Zealand to 127 for 8. "AUS W vs NZ W" was among the cricket searches trending in Pakistan this week.

## Gardner's 84 rescues Australia

Australia were in trouble early. Bree Illing had **Georgia Voll** caught and bowled for a duck in the first over, Jess Kerr removed Phoebe Litchfield (7), and leg-spinner Nensi Patel deceived **Ellyse Perry** (11) in the flight, so Australia were 41 for 3 in the seventh over.

Gardner turned it around. She and wicketkeeper **Beth Mooney** (39 off 28) added 60 for the fourth wicket, and Gardner kept going after Mooney fell, hitting **10 fours and 4 sixes** before she was run out off the last ball of the innings.

| Australia batter | Runs | Balls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ashleigh Gardner | 84 | 45 |
| Beth Mooney | 39 | 28 |
| Ellyse Perry | 11 | 13 |
| Annabel Sutherland | 10 | 9 |

For New Zealand, Jess Kerr took 2 for 34 and Patel 2 for 30.

## New Zealand's chase stalls

New Zealand captain **Melie Kerr** made 32 off 38 and Maddy Green 26, and the visitors were 77 for 2 in the 14th over. Then they lost three wickets for 14 runs: Georgia Wareham took a sharp catch at deep midwicket to remove Kerr off Gardner, Green was run out, and Wareham's leg-spin did the rest. **Wareham finished with 3 for 18** from four overs, Gardner 2 for 17 from three, and Kim Garth and Lucy Hamilton took one each.

## The series

Australia won the opener on Sunday by a narrower margin, when Perry's innings carried them home after a middle-order collapse, [ESPNcricinfo](https://www.cricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-in-australia-2026-27-1528690/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-1st-t20i-1528722/match-report) and [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/australia-new-zealand-t20-womens-cricket-match-report) reported. Tuesday's win puts Sophie Molineux's side 2-0 up in the T20I series.

**Scores:** Australia Women 167 for 7 (20 overs; Gardner 84, Mooney 39; J Kerr 2-34, Patel 2-30) beat New Zealand Women 127 for 8 (20 overs; M Kerr 32, Green 26; Wareham 3-18, Gardner 2-17) by 40 runs.

Live scores for every match Pakistani fans follow, including Pakistan's ODI tri-series, are on our [cricket match centre](/cricket-today). Pakistan women's fixtures and results are on the [Pakistan women's cricket page](/news/cricket/pakistan-womens-cricket-team-squad-captain-fixtures-and-results).

## Frequently asked questions

**Who won Australia Women vs New Zealand Women 2nd T20I?**

Australia won by 40 runs at North Sydney Oval on 20 October 2026, making 167 for 7 and holding New Zealand to 127 for 8. Ashleigh Gardner was player of the match for 84 off 45 and 2 for 17.

## Sources

- Australia Women vs New Zealand Women, 2nd T20I full scorecard (ESPNcricinfo): https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-in-australia-2026-27-1528690/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-2nd-t20i-1528723/full-scorecard
- Perry powers nervy Australia to 1-0 lead (ESPNcricinfo): https://www.cricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-in-australia-2026-27-1528690/australia-women-vs-new-zealand-women-1st-t20i-1528722/match-report
- Australia squeeze past New Zealand after mid-order collapse in opening women's T20 (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/australia-new-zealand-t20-womens-cricket-match-report

How to cite: "AUS W vs NZ W: Ashleigh Gardner's 84 off 45 gives Australia 40-run win and 2-0 lead", Searchable, 20 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/aus-w-vs-nz-w-ashleigh-gardners-84-off-45-gives-australia-40-run-win-and-2-0