West Indies captain Hayley Matthew etched her name into cricketing history by becoming the fourth woman to score three or more centuries in Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is). Her unbeaten 100 off 67 balls against England at Canterbury highlighted her exceptional talent and has placed her among an elite group of batters in this format.
Matthews’ century was a masterclass in resilience and skill, as she single-handedly propelled her team to a total of 146/7. Despite her efforts, England chased down the target with ease, winning by eight wickets. Nevertheless, Matthews’ innings stood out, making her only the third woman to score a T20I century against England. As she joins Chamari Athapaththu as the only full-time member with 3 centuries, let’s take a glance at the elite list of the centurions.
Esa Oza (United Arab Emirates)
Oza has been a standout performer for the UAE women’s team and also leads the way in the centurion list. The all-rounder has a record total of 4 centuries in T20Is. Oza’s centuries have often come at quick strike rates, helping her team to dominate among associate nations. Oza’s explosive and maiden century of 158* came off against Bahrain, which propelled UAE to 253/1, eventually leading UAE to a 210-run victory. Oza got her second century 115 against Qatar women. Oza’s unbeaten century of 114 against Oman was instrumental in setting a challenging target, leading to a comfortable win for the UAE. Most recently, earlier this month, Oza scored a blazing 113 in the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. Her T20Is stats stand at 2588 runs with four centuries and ten half-centuries, in just 95 matches, setting her as a dominant front force for UAE.
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
Chamari’s hitting ability is evident with her 3 centuries in T20Is. Her first century of 113 came off against Australia. Despite Athapaththu’s valiant effort in setting a target, Sri Lanka couldn’t defend it against a strong Australian side. While her 102 came against Scotland which laid the foundation for a defendable total, leading to a comfortable win. Athapaththu’s unbeaten knock of 119*, also her T20I-best to date, came against Malaysia. It was pivotal in setting a massive target and the bowlers also stepped up, resulting in a dominant victory by 144 runs. In her T20I career, she has amassed a total of 3458 runs with three centuries and thirteen half-centuries. She is one of the most powerful hitters in women’s cricket and her aggressive style has brought Sri Lanka famous victories against Australia and India.
Fatuma Kibasu (Tanzania)
Fatuma is a dominant force in Tanzanian cricket. Known for her consistency and composure at the crease, she also holds on the centurion list. Kibasu’s maiden century, 108* against Mali women, was crucial in setting a high total, leading to a comfortable victory. Her highest score of 127* against Eswatini women helped set an imposing target, securing another resounding win for Tanzania. Another match where Kibasu’s century of 101* against Qatar women set the tone for a successful defense. She also stands as the fastest woman to reach 1000 runs in the format and has racked up a total of 1245 runs and picked up 16 wickets from 45 matches. All her three centuries have come in winning causes, setting up the game for Tanzania.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
The opener is a premier player and the backbone of the West Indies women’s side. Her most recent century made her the third woman to score a T20I century against England and the fourth centurion on the list to score 3 or more centuries. Matthews’ unbeaten and maiden century of 107 came against Ireland which helped set a formidable total, leading to a series-clinching victory by 72 runs for West Indies. Her explosive innings of 132 against Australia was central and the highest successful chase in women’s T20I history, showcasing her prowess in a high-pressure chase. In her most recent outings, despite Matthews’ lone effort in setting a target and scoring her third century (100*) against England, the team couldn’t defend it against England’s strong batting lineup. Matthews has accumulated 2751 runs in T20Is, with three centuries and sixteen half centuries and picked up 108 wickets in 100 innings.
Prosscovia Alako (Uganda)
Alako has made a name for herself in associate women’s cricket. Her centuries are known for coming in dominant fashion, often scoring quickly and anchoring Uganda’s innings. She’s the fifth woman to stand in the centurion record, with 2 centuries. Alako’s maiden century of 116, also her career-best, against Mali women was key in setting a high total, leading to a dominant win for Uganda. Momentarily her performance (100) against Cameroon with a century helped set a challenging target, securing victory for her team. Alako has accumulated 824 T20I runs from 59 matches with two centuries and one half-century in T20Is.
