The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) got underway on Saturday and the opening day made for some exhilarating cricket.
Sydney Sixers Women took on the Melbourne Stars Women in the opening match of the WBBL at the North Sydney Oval and records were sent tumbling down in the high scoring clash.
Led by star Australia player Ellyse Perry, the Sixers set a record total of 242-4 batting first in their 20 overs.
The 242 put on by Perry’s side is the highest ever score in the history of both the WBBL and its men’s counterpart BBL.
The previous high score in the WBBL was also set on Saturday itself in the opening match when Sydney Thunder Women put up 200 on the board against Melbourne Renegades Women.
The highest score in the BBL meanwhile is the 223 runs set by Hobart Hurricanes.
Perry and Gardner smashed 14 sixes between them.
Perry herself was in smashing form on Saturday as she put up an unbeaten 91 off just 49 deliveries after opening the innings for the Sixers.
However, it was 20-year-old Ashleigh Gardner who took all the plaudits for a super maiden T20 ton. Gardner hit 10 massive sixes and nine boundaries in her 52-ball 114.
Perry and Gardner put on a 150-run stand for the second wicket with the latter doing the bulk of the scoring with 114 runs.
The former however let loose with four sixes of her own after the departure of Gardner as the Sixers ended up with 242-4.
In reply, the Melbourne Stars were restricted to 156-7 in their 20 overs to hand the Sixers a massive 86-run victory in their opening match.