A finger damage and lack of sleep didn’t cease Ashleigh Gardner from starring within the one-off Ashes check as she tore by way of England’s batting line-up and claimed the most effective match figures for an Australian lady of their 89-run victory.
Off-spinner Gardner completed with 8-66 on the ultimate day on Monday – the most effective innings haul for Australia and the second-best total – whereas her match figures of 12-165 had been additionally the second greatest behind Shaiza Khan’s 13-226 for Pakistan from 2004.
The 26-year-old had taken a blow to her bowling hand throughout slips follow in Australia’s three-day warm-up match and didn’t bowl earlier than the check.
“My finger clearly bent backwards the place it’s most likely not alleged to. It’s nearly stretched that ligament somewhat bit,” Gardner mentioned.
“Adrenaline does humorous issues and I utterly overlook about it as quickly because the ball was in hand.
“In order quickly as I wasn’t bowling (at Trent Bridge), I put a splint straight on it, simply to guard it as a result of within the area is the place I’m extra prone to get hit.
“It was fairly irritating however as a result of I didn’t get that match follow in earlier than the check.”
Gardner, who had dismissed key gamers Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver-Brunt on the penultimate day, mentioned she spent a largely sleepless night time visualising how she was going to take away England’s remaining 5 batters.
“I used to be awake at 3 am eager about bowling, which was a bit tragic,” Gardner mentioned. “I used to be conscious, actually eager about how I used to be going to get the batters out and I’ve by no means accomplished that earlier than.”
Australia earned 4 factors within the multi-format collection as they bid to retain the Ashes. The groups subsequent meet in a three-match Twenty20 Worldwide collection starting on July 1 at Edgbaston.