Sophie Devine sets new T20 record with 36-ball century

Sophie Devine struck the fastest women's T20 century with a 36-ball hundred for Wellington against Otago in Dunedin. Devine's unbeaten 108 off 38 balls was also the quickest Super Smash century, for men or women, in Wellington's 10-wicket win as they stormed past the 129 target in under nine overs.

In what was her first game of the tournament this season after returning from the WBBL in Australia, Devine, the New Zealand captain, broke Deandra Dottin's record of a 38-ball century from 2010 against South Africa, and with her sixth T20 century, she also overtook Suzie Bates (five) and Alyssa Healy (five) on the list of most T20 hundreds in women's cricket. It was also Devine's fourth T20 hundred since the beginning of 2020, following her centuries in the Super Smash last year, against South Africa at home in February 2020, and for the Perth Scorchers in the WBBL in November.

Devine's feat was all the more remarkable as she completed her 14-day mandatory quarantine only fours days ago, on Sunday, having extended her stay in Australia until the end of last year following the completion of the WBBL.

Her knock on Thursday was studded with nine sixes and as many fours. After Otago managed 128 for 7 with a quick 35 off 26 from No. 4 Hayley Jensen, Devine tore into the opposition with a 21-ball fifty that powered Wellington to 82 for 0 in the powerplay and a 41-ball century stand, off which Devine had scored 85 runs in the company of her opening partner and captain Maddy Green. In just over half an hour into the innings, Devine had clocked her century with seven fours and nine sixes.

Devine was particularly brutal in the third over when she smashed Jensen for two fours and as many sixes, and Green also ended the over with a six that took the over's tally to 28. Devine then finished the fifth over with a four and a six to reach her half-century, and followed it with three sixes in the seventh over to propel her team past 100. She then took on Emma Black in the ninth over to strike a six and two fours on three straight deliveries that sealed the win for Wellington.

When asked how she felt about an innings like this after returning to the field following the quarantine-enforced break, Devine said: "I was really nervous this morning, I think when you have a bit of an extended break away from the game you get nervous about can you come back into it. So it's nice just to spend some time in the middle and get a few out of the screws.

"For me it was just about playing smart cricket so knowing where my gaps were, trying to manipulate the field. I sort of knew where they would bowl so if I could manipulate myself around the crease, I'd open up areas of the field. Pleased with the way it went today.

"Sometimes I get a little bit carried away and we've probably seen it a little bit, and I get a bit over-eager and play some rash shots. So it's nice to stick to some decent cricket shots today and finish the job."

With their fourth win from five games, Wellington are leading the points table with 16 points.

The record for the fastest century in men's T20s is held by Chris Gayle, who reached the three-digit score in 30 balls, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Pune Warriors in IPL 2013.