Gujarat Giants’ vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner has clinched the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for February 2023.

Gardner has pipped Giants’ teammate Laura Wolvaardt and England’s all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for the second time in her career. The Giants’ star all-rounder earlier bagged her maiden ICC Women’s Player of the Month award back in December 2022.

Gardner had played a pivotal role in helping Australia claim the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 held in South Africa in the month of February.

The right-arm off-spinner finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. She scalped 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 12.50 and an economy of 6.25.

Along with her spin bowling, the New South Wales-born cricketer also contributed some valuable runs with the bat. The 25-year-old scored 110 runs in five innings at an average of 36.66 and a strike rate of 119.56.

Earlier in the T20 World Cup 2023 final against South Africa, Gardner scored a 21-ball 29 and later picked up one wicket for just 20 runs in her quota of four overs to help Australia beat the hosts by 19 runs to bag their sixth T20 World Cup overall.

Following her consistent all-round performances, Gardner was also named the ICC Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup.

“Thank you to everyone who voted me the ICC Women’s Player of the Month. The past month has been ground-breaking for women’s cricket and it’s an exciting time for our sport. The T20 World Cup was a brilliant tournament, and playing the hosts South Africa in the final in front of a packed crowd at Newlands was an incredible experience.” Gardner was quoted as saying to ICC after clinching the award.

“Our Australian team are fortunate to have a number of world-class players. I'm happy I was able to contribute to our team's success over the course of the World Cup,” she added.

Gardner has been looking to continue her impressive all-round form for the Gujarat Giants in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) in Mumbai. She has already scalped four wickets and scored 44 runs in four matches so far.