Australia's Ashleigh Gardner, right, celebrates her century as Australia's Annabel Sutherland, left, applauds during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup cricket match between England and Australia at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

INDORE, India (AP) — Defending champion Australia remained unbeaten as Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland shared an unbroken 180-run partnership in a six-wicket win over England at the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Wednesday.

Gardner hit her second hundred of the tournament and Sutherland was 98 not out as Australia recovered from 68-4 in 15.5 overs to win with 57 balls to spare. The pair had earlier taken five England wickets between them.

Australia finished on 248-4 in 40.3 overs in reply to England's 244-9, and it was the highest successful chase against England at a Cricket World Cup.

Both sides – along with South Africa – had already qualified for the semifinals.

Gardner scored 104 not out off 73 balls at Holkar Stadium in Indore, following up on 115 off 83 balls against New Zealand at the same venue on Oct. 8.

Sutherland faced 112 balls.

Beaumont hits 78 for England

Tammy Beaumont’s 78 off 105 balls propelled the England innings.

Sutherland starred for Australia with the ball as well – the medium-pacer picked up 3-60 in 10 overs. Off-spinner Gardner also put in a bowling shift with 2-39 in nine overs as England had no response to the duo’s all-round prowess.

Wrist spinner Alana King kept it very tight with 1-20 in 10 overs.

Alyssa Healy was ruled out of the game with a calf injury. McGrath led Australia in her absence.

Sutherland was named player of the match.

“The spinners did a fantastic job, especially Alana (King), and this is hard ground to defend," Sutherland said. “We knew the game was going to keep moving and Ash (Gardner) is pretty good at the other end. It is always fun batting with her. When I get in, I cash in as I trust my game.”

The win takes Australia top of the standings with 11 points from six games — five wins and a no-result. The seven-time champions are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run in the tournament, stretching back to the previous edition in 2022.

England stayed third with its first loss of the tournament – it has nine points from four wins and a no-result.

Tournament co-host India can secure the remaining final spot if it beats New Zealand on Thursday.

Good start for England

England made a good start after being put into bat. Beaumont and Amy Jones (18) put on 55 for the first wicket.

Sutherland provided the breakthrough by bowling Jones, while Sophie Molineux dismissed in-form Heather Knight for 20. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt fell for seven as England was down to 105-3 in 22.2 overs.

Beaumont scored her first half-century of this World Cup.

Sutherland struck in the 35th over to remove Beaumont and the English innings lost momentum and the four-time champions lost regular wickets.

Australia shows its resilience

England hit back early in Australia’s innings.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith continued her red-hot form as she struck twice – Georgia Voll was bowled for six. She also sent back Ellyse Perry for 13, while Lauren Bell bowled Phoebe Litchfield for just one.

After Beth Mooney fell to Sophie Ecclestone for 20, Gardner and Sutherland came together to turn the game around. Their 50-stand came off 56 balls, and they gained momentum later on.

The next 50 runs came in 39 deliveries, while the 150-stand came up within another 38 balls. Gardner, who reached 50 off 47 balls, raced to her third Cricket World Cup hundred off the next 22 balls. In all she hit 16 fours, while Sutherland hit nine fours and a six.

Their 180-run stand was the second highest for the fifth wicket or below in women’s ODIs.

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