Deandra Dottin's First T20 World Cup Ton (Source: @windiescricket/x.com)
Despite being the second most popular sport in the world, cricket makes the fans wear their emotions on their sleeves as the game delivers unreal drama across the formats. But the World Cups always inject some unreal madness, and the craze has only intensified since the T20 World Cup was introduced in 2007.
Just two years later, the stage expanded further with the introduction of the Women's T20 World Cup, adding a new dimension to the game. If we ask the world who was the first centurion of the T20 World Cup, the name of Chris Gayle will be echoed loudly. But the West Indies gifted another legend, the first centurion of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Who delivers the first unforgettable milestone on the Women's T20 World Cup?
In the shortest format of the game, the West Indies batters carved their own place as the world bows down to the Universe Boss, who became the first batter to score a century in the T20 World Cup. But there is another Caribbean legend who wears the same crown.
After the Men’s T20 World Cup was introduced in 2007, the Women’s T20 World Cup was introduced two years later, in 2009. In the second season of the tournament, West Indies star Deandra Dottin touched a historic milestone.
In the first match of the tournament, Dottin smashed an outstanding hundred while facing South Africa Women. It wasn’t just a milestone knock, but a defining moment that paved the way for future stars and reshaped the narrative of women’s cricket.
Also Read: West Indies Legend Dismissed 'Obstructing The Field', Enters Rare List
'Dottin Dominance' takes over the Protea Women like never before
While facing South Africa Women in that iconic match, the West Indies Women were having a nightmare as the team was standing on 52/4. Standing at that point, Deandra Dottin was the biggest hope for the side.
Keeping Shanel Delay on the other side of the strike, Dottin took charge from the first ball. The Protea bowlers started losing grip as the West Indies batter started smashing them all over the ground.
After reaching a responsible half-century in 26 balls, Dottin touched the magical three-figure mark in the next 12 balls. Her blistering 38-ball hundred made her the first woman to score a century on the T20 World Cup stage.
Depending on her unbeaten 112, the West Indies Women put on a total of 175 runs on the board and ended up winning the match by 17 runs. While the world had long celebrated men’s cricket, this iconic knock proved that women’s cricket can shine just as brightly and command the same awe.
Dottin sparks a legacy that the next generation carries forward
At a time when cricket was often seen as a male-dominated game, legends like Deandra Dottin rose to challenge that narrative on the biggest stage. From 2009 to 2024, the Caribbean legend appeared in eight T20 World Cup editions, donning the West Indies’ jersey.
In 35 matches in the prestigious tournament, she scored 770 runs and scored one hundred, along with three fifties. Before the 2024 edition, she reversed her retirement and represented the nation once again.
After Deandra Dottin registered the first hundred in the Women’s T20 World Cup, it took four years for the next, when Meg Lanning smashed a ton against Ireland in 2014. At a time when women’s cricket was still finding its footing, Dottin’s landmark knock played a crucial role in shaping its future.
Also Read: India’s Squad For T20 World Cup 2026- Prominent Names Who Failed To Make The Cut
