Gardner puts Australia on top as England collapse

Ashleigh Gardner has put the hosts on top of the series-opening Ashes ODI, claiming three wickets as England capitulated to be all out for 204.

Sent in to bat on the pint-sized North Sydney Oval, England threw wickets away at the wrong times after being spun into a web by Gardner.

Gardner claimed 3-19 from her 6.1 overs, including the key scalps of England's two best batters in Heather Knight (39) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (19).

Fellow spinner Alana King finished with 2-35, getting rid of Amy Jones with a well-taken return catch before trapping Charlie Dean lbw.

Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth also claimed two wickets each for Australia, as no bowler went for more than six an over.

But as good as Australia's bowling was, England's batters regularly plotted their own demises.

The shots by Knight and Brunt were particularly poor, sweeping Gardner straight to Ellyse Perry at cow corner after England had claimed a solid base at 2-92 in the 20th over.

The ball Knight swept was way too far outside off stump, while Brunt's shot was equally poor given she had just seen her captain depart in the same way.

Jones then looked the most likely to get away for England, pulling Sutherland for a big six over square leg and hitting four more boundaries on her way to 31 from 30 deliveries.

But when she hit a drive straight back at King, the collapse was on for England and they lost their last six wickets for 58 runs.

Gardner's wickets continue a strong run with the ball for the offspinning allrounder, who took 5-30 against India at the WACA last month.

Once renowned as a better bat than bowler, Gardner also claimed 8-66 for Australia in the fourth innings of the Ashes Test in 2023.

Two points are available in the multi-format series for each of the three ODIs and three T20s, before four points are up for grabs in this summer's series-ending Test at the MCG.