Steven Taylor becomes first USA batsman to score T20 century

USA batsman Steven Taylor became the first American cricketer to score a century in Twenty20 cricket during a match against Bermuda in the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Americas Division One Twenty20 tournament in Fort Lauderdale. The 19-year-old from Miramar, Florida scored 101 off 62 balls, bringing up his landmark in 61 balls, as USA beat Bermuda by 48 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Taylor was on 78 with three overs to go in the innings before a string of sixes in the next two overs, including a couple in the 19th over off Rodney Trott, took him to triple digits. He brought up his hundred with his sixth six and his innings also included five fours. Earlier in the tournament, Taylor fell for 95 against Cayman Islands, trying to hit a six to get to his hundred.

Last October, Taylor was the only American player in the International World XI that played two T20 exhibition matches in Pakistan to help foster the return of international cricket to the country. He was named his side's player of the series after taking four wickets in the two games.

Taylor also holds the American record for the highest score at the Under-19 level for his innings of 140 off 120 balls against Papua New Guinea in a 2011 ICC Under-19 World Cup qualifier.

USA are unbeaten in seven matches of the ICC Americas tournament and have secured a spot at the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. They finished in 12th place with a 3-6 record at the Twenty20 Qualifier in 2012 but notched a big upset with a seven-wicket win over Scotland in the group stage, in which Taylor scored an important 40 runs.