Fanny Utagushimaninde [Source: X]Friday afternoon in Lagos turned out to be one of the historic days in Women’s T20I cricket as Rwanda took on Ghana in the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament’s Match 1. The latest women’s teenage sensation from Rwanda, Fanny Utagushimaninde, at the age of just 15 years and 223 days, scored a scintillating ton on her debut. With months to go for the Women's T20 World Cup, she opened the batting and helped her team win the match by an emphatic margin of 122 runs and went on to etch her name into the history books. Rwanda’s prodigy rewrites record books As Fanny Utagushimaninde opened the innings alongside Gisele Ishimwe, she took the charge of the innings and batted for more than half the overs, playing 65 balls for an unbeaten 111 with 17 fours to her name. In this century, she beat the WT20I record of Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako to become the youngest Women’s star to score a century. Notably, her opening partner, Ishimwe, was previously second in the list with a century at the age of 17 years and 2 days. The youngster also went past the West Indies legend, Deandra Dottin, who had scored a century at 18 years 318 days in 2010. Courtesy of the 111* (65) from Utagushimaninde, Rwanda scored 210/3 at the end of 20 overs and went on to restrict Ghana for just 88/8, bowling out the full quota of overs. Also Read: New Zealand Captain Amelia Kerr Joins Elite List With Historic ODI Feat In 200-Run WinYoungest players to score WT20I century Fanny Utagushimaninde (RWA) – 15 years 223 days vs Ghana, 2026. Prosscovia Alako (UGA) – 16 years 233 days vs Mali, 2019. Gisele Ishimwe (RWA) – 17 years 3 days vs Eswatini, 2021. Amy Hunter (IRE) – 18 years 107 days vs Zimbabwe, 2024. Deandra Dottin (WI) – 18 years 318 days vs SA, 2010. Highest score on WT20I debut To go with the youngest centurion record, Utagushimaninde also became the Women’s cricketer with the highest score on T20I debut, beating Karen Rolton’s 20-year-old record of an unbeaten 96 off 53. Fanny Utagushimaninde (RWA) – 111* (65) vs Ghana, 2026. Karen Rolton (AUS) – 96* (53) vs England, 2005. Stafanie Taylor (WI) – 90 (49) vs Ireland, 2008. Sterre Kalis (NED) – 88*(68) vs United Arab Emirates, 2018. Mwanaidi Swedy (TZN) – 87* (48) vs Mozambique, 2021. Rwanda eye title at Nigeria Invitational TournamentThe tournament in Lagos started on a high note for the Rwanda Women's team with a big win over Ghana, as they now find themselves top of the table with a net run rate of 6.100. On the other hand, the hosts, Nigeria, defeated the Zimbabwe U19 team and created a stir in the competition early on.Up next, South Africa U19 is set to be involved in the tournament from tomorrow, and they will be starting as the favourites. However, following the early fireworks from Utagushimaninde and co., Rwanda will be hopeful of pulling off an upset over the Proteas.Rwanda's next two matches are against Zimbabwe on March 21, followed by South Africa U19 on the next day, which could determine their fate in the tournament.Also Read: SRH's X-Factors Who Can Win Them The IPL 2026 Title
