Harmanpreet Kaur dazzled in the opening match of World T20 2018 with her maiden T20I century. Harmanpreet rose to the occasion and scored 103 runs off 51 deliveries to become the first Indian woman and 9th overall to score a century in T20I. She is the third captain to hit a ton in T20Is.
The Indian skipper started off slowly scoring just 5 runs off 13 deliveries. She paced her innings well and reached her half century from 30 deliveries. Afterwards she played a blinder scoring next 53 runs off just 20 deliveries and becoming the third fastest T20I centurion. Her innings was studded with 7 fours and 8 sixes, scoring at a strike rate of 201.96. Hence, hitting the third most number of sixes in a T20I innings.
Harmanpreet Kaur got the @WorldT20 off to a RAPID start with a sensational display of hitting in Guyana. Here are her biggest and best shots, delivered by @Oppo #FlashCharge. pic.twitter.com/KOSrNbDGOJ
— ICC (@ICC) November 10, 2018
After three quick wickets in the powerplay overs, the 29-year-old steadied the ship with youngster Jemimah Rodrigues. They shared a partnership of 134 runs for the fourth wicket. This is the highest fourth wicket partnership in World T20 history.
It is also the highest partnership for India in T20I cricket for any wicket. The New Zealand bowlers tried hard but could not break the partnership. The sublime batting effort also led to the highest partnership against the White Ferns in T20I.
The total of 194 for 5 was India’s highest innings total in T20Is in T20 World Cup and second overall. The total was the second-highest in the history of T20 World Cups. Also, the highest against New Zealand.
Here’s how Twitter bowed down to the magnificent knock:
Harmanpreet Kaur , wonderful hundred. Great bat swing in a really zordaar innings pic.twitter.com/lTfG5hsSkD
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 9, 2018
Just double her pay already
Whatever BCCI are paying Harmanpreet Kaur, the ICC should pay twenty times that. She’s slapping women’s cricket into people’s houses. #harmonster
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) November 9, 2018
Acceleration at it’s best
3 from 15 to 103 from 51! @ImHarmanpreet maiden T20 was all class and has set the tone for the #WT20. #HarmanpreetKaur
— Mel ‘MJ’ Jones (@meljones_33) November 9, 2018
Always a step ahead
Interesting to see that Harmanpreet Kaur is standing outside her crease while playing a spinner….never seen that before. #INDWvNZW #WWT20
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2018
The statistic of the tournament
No team hit 8 sixes in the entire Women’s @WorldT20 tournament in 2016. Harmanpreet Kaur alone hit 8 maximums today. Shows how much women’s cricket has evolved in couple of years. Amazing start to the event. #WT20
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 9, 2018
That’s how it should be
“Harmanpreet Kaur” trending higher than “Theresa May’s Brexit” and all is well with the world. #WT20 #bosh
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) November 9, 2018
Every young cricket fan right now
When I grow up I want to be Harmanpreet Kaur.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) November 9, 2018
From Hitman to Hitwoman
What a start to women’s t20 cricket World Cup.Brilliant batting by @JemiRodrigues to keep things calm in the middle & supporting @ImHarmanpreet who played an unbelievable knock to become 1st Indian women to score t20 hundred .I’m sure bowlers can pull things off from here
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) November 9, 2018
Two minutes silence for Harmanpreet
Not a good day to be out. Looks like I am missing something special from Jemima Rodrigues and Harmanpreet!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 9, 2018
It seems like Harmanpreet saves her best for the big stage. In 2017 she scored 171 against Australia in ODI World Cup 2017. India would bank upon her to lead from the front and play a captain’s knock in situations like these if they are to reach their first ever finals in the tournament.
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