Gardner produced one of the finest individual performances in WBBL history, rescuing the Sixers from a disastrous start and turning the match completely in their favour.
Sydney Sixers were in serious trouble at 6 for 3 in the third over before Gardner joined forces with England batter Alice Capsey to stage a sensational recovery. The duo added 176 runs for the fourth wicket, completely changing the momentum of the innings.
Gardner was at her destructive best, smashing 10 fours and nine sixes during her 60-ball knock. Capsey provided excellent support, remaining unbeaten on 54 off 40 deliveries.
Gardner's dismissal triggered a late collapse as the Sixers lost five wickets for just seven runs. However, the damage had already been done, with the home side finishing their innings at an imposing 196 for 8.
The century was Gardner's second in the WBBL and her highest individual score in T20 cricket.
Speaking after the innings, Gardner praised the batting conditions and explained that the pitch offered plenty of opportunities for scoring once a batter settled in.
Hurricanes Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing a challenging target of 197, defending champions Hobart Hurricanes never managed to build momentum and were eventually bowled out for just 109.
The Hurricanes' batting lineup collapsed early, slipping to 26 for 5 in the eighth over and leaving themselves with an almost impossible task.
Young Sydney Sixers fast bowler Caoimhe Bray played a crucial role in the early collapse, dismissing Chamari Athapaththu and Rachel Trenaman in her third over. The 17-year-old finished with impressive figures of 2 for 14.
Gardner then took control with the ball, claiming three important wickets for 22 runs. She struck with her very first delivery to dismiss dangerous opener Lizelle Lee before bowling Hurricanes captain Nicola Carey just five balls later.
Gardner returned to remove Chenille Henry, who had provided some resistance with a quick 32 off 20 deliveries.
Maddy Green was the other major contributor for Hobart, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 33 balls, but her efforts were not enough to prevent a heavy defeat.
Leg-spinner Melie Kerr also made a significant contribution, picking up three wickets for 25 runs to clean up the Hurricanes' lower order.
Gardner Joins Elite WBBL Record Books
Gardner's extraordinary performance placed her among a select group of players in WBBL history. She became only the second player, after Grace Harris, to score a century and claim at least three wickets in the same WBBL match.
The result also had a significant impact on the tournament standings. Sydney Sixers registered their second consecutive victory to move to 2-0, while defending champions Hobart Hurricanes suffered their second straight defeat and slipped to 0-2.
The match was also part of a remarkable day of batting in the WBBL, with Brisbane Heat scoring 178 for 5 and Sydney Thunder successfully chasing their target with six wickets and 20 balls remaining.
However, the biggest highlight belonged to Gardner, whose explosive century and outstanding bowling performance powered the Sixers to a memorable comeback victory and sent a strong warning to the rest of the competition.
