The first match (officially reported) Women's cricket was reported in 26 July, 1745 The Reading Mercury, the match was played between two villages, Hambledon and Bramley.
Slowly Women's cricket started to get the respect it deserves, Women's cricket had seen some of the biggest developments or changes which was never seen before, not even in men's cricket, for example- Women's Cricket World Cup was started in 1973, two years before the 1975 cricket World Cup, first T20I was also played between England's and New Zealand in 2004 at Hove.
The first Women's T20 World CupCup was started on 2009, just like the first Cricket World Cup of 1973 this was also organised by England and just like the 1973 World Cup this tournament was won by the hosts.
There are only 5 instances in Women's T 20 World Cup where a batswomen scored a century and this is the list which is featuring the same :-
1. Meg Lanning's 126 Vs Ireland, 2014
In 2014, Bangladesh hosted both Men's and Women's T20 World Cup, this was the first time Women's T20 World Cup has 10 teams (in all the previous tournaments the participants were only 8 countries), this tournament featured two new teams hosts Bangladesh and Ireland.
In the 9th match of the tournament, Australia faced Ireland, after winning the toss and elected to bat first, despite losing an early wicket, Opener Delissa Kimmince and Captain Meg Lanning started the rebuilding process with 86 runs partnership.
After the dismissal of Delissa, Lanning made another partnership of 83 runs with Alex Blackwell, but it was Lanning (126) who not only played a captain's knock but also played a aggressor's role beautifully and by the time she was dismissed, Australia already had got runs on the board, in the end Australia scored 191/4 in 20 overs.
Australia Bowlers then put a strangle hold on Ireland batting line up and by the time the match ended Ireland were only able to made 113/7 in 20 overs, Australia won by 78 runs.
2. Deandra Dottin's 112 Vs South Africa, 2010
2010 T20 World Cup was the second T20 World Cup which was hosted by West Indies, in the very first match host West Indies faced South Africa.
In 2003, the first 50 overs world Cup was played in South Africa (co hosted by Zimbabwe and Kenya) and the first match was played between South Africa and West Indies, on that day Brian Lara's brilliant century proved enough as West Indies defeated Proteas by just 3 runs but unfortunately in 2007, Chris Gayle's century wasn't enough to defeat South Africa, so this match at that point of time would have been very intresting, and it turned out to be a very intresting match indeed.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first, at first the bowlers made their captain's decision a right one with Windies losing their 4 wickets for 52.
But all this changed when the legendary all-rounder Deandra Dottin walked up to the crease to bat and along with Shanel Daley added 118 runs in their partnership, Daley only made 10 runs in her innings before she was run out, it was actually Dottin who batted aggresively throughout her innings.
In just 45 balls she made a brilliant century (112*) This was also first T20I century from Women's cricket, which helped Windies to not only make a comeback into the match but also helped to post a total which can be challenging enough for the opposition team.
Windies bowlers then got a early wicket but then both (Opener) Shandre Fritz (58) and captain Cri-zelda Brits made an important partnership of 84 runs, but required rate was climbing with every ball being bowled, with both batswomen dismissed on the score of 111 and 112 respectively, things become too difficult for Proteas.
At the end, South Africa managed to score 158/4 in their full quota of 20 overs, Dottin alongside her performance also picked up a wicket and was rightly adjudged as the Player of the match, West Indies won by 17 runs
Both Chris Gayle and Deandra Dottin of West Indies team has scored first T20I centuries in Men's and Women's cricket respectively and that too in T20 World Cup.
3. Heather Knight's 108 Vs Thailand, 2020
In 2020, the Women's t20 World Cup tournament was organized in Australia, with 10 teams participating in the tournament with Thailand Women's team making their debut in the international tournament.
In the 7th match of the tournament, Thailand faced England, Thailand skipper decided to field first after winning the toss, England started batting and had a horrid start, with both of their openers failed to score a single run.
At 7/2, England's captain Heather Knight walked out to bat, she was supported well by Nat Sciver (59*) both made an unbeaten partnership of 169 runs, Knight (108*) not only made an commendable century but put her team back at the top of the opposition team, England were able to put 176 runs on the board in 20 overs.
Thai batters, in their reply, were no match to England, they were only restricted to 78/7 in 20 overs, Sciver after scoring an unbeaten half century, also got 2 wickets while bowling, England won the match by 98 runs.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur's 103 runs Vs New Zealand, 2018
Indian women's team has participated in every T20 World Cup tournament played so far, they are yet to win an ICC tournament, however over the years they have performed well and always given their best and results always shows that how well they are becoming everyday.
India and cricket records are seems to move with each other simultaneously, Team India, whether it is Men's or Women's cricket, whenever they are in the field, they seem to make or break records.
Captaincy is already a tough job and is always a position that will be under scrutiny, but their are some captains who are not only trying to do their best in this roles but also literally lead from the front, either by their performance with the bat or ball or with their brilliance on the field, already 2 Captains Meg Lanning and Heather Knight featured in this list, now this is the turn of Indian skipper to feature in this list.
In 2018, T20 World Cup tournament was organised in West Indies for the second time and the hosts were also the defending champions at that point of time.
In the first match of the tournament, India faced New Zealand, Harmanpreet won the toss and elected to bat first after winning the toss, at first it Looked like a bad decision when India lost their 3 wickets for just 40 runs, but Harmanpreet changed the course of the match when she went out to bat.
Harmanpreet Kaur attacked Kiwi bowlers and scored a century (103) and put on 134 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (59), by the time Kaur was dismissed she already helped her team to reach at a challenging score of 194 in their 20 overs.
In reply, New Zealand got a good start and they were looked like that they are into the match but soon they lost clutter of wickets and when Suzie Bates (67) who was playing a fighting innings for her team got out New Zealand lost their momentum and they finished on 160/9, India won by 34 runs.
5. Lizelle Lee's 101 runs Vs Thailand, 2020
As previously mentioned Thailand Qualified to feature in their first Women's T20 World Cup (2020) which was organised in Australia, it was indeed a tough time for Thai Women's team.
South Africa faced Thailand in the 11 th match of the tournament and after winning the toss elected to bat first, despite losing their opener and captain Dane Van Niekirk when the team's total was 13, South Africa managed to bring themselves back into the match, thanks to opener Lizelle Lee and Sune Luus (61*) partnership of 131 runs, Lee scored a century (101) within that partnership itself before getting dismissed, which proves that how destructive she was on that day against Thai bowlers.
Luus remained unbeaten till the end and South Africa managed a huge total of 195/3 in their 20 overs, up against a huge challenging total like this, Thai batters have no chance against South Africa bowlers and were bowled out for 82 runs in 19.1 overs, Luus also took 3 wickets with ball in her hands after scoring a half century earlier in the day.
South Africa won by 113 runs.
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