The Indian skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian woman cricketer to score a century in the shortest format of the game in women’s cricket, when she smashed a 51-ball century against New Zealand in the tournament opener of the Women’s World T20 at the Providence Stadium, Guyana.
After winning the toss, the Indian skipper decided to bat first and despite that, they were in a spot of bother at 40 for 3 when skipper Kaur came to the crease. She came into the middle with Jemimah Rodrigues at the other end and both stitched a mammoth 134-run stand to take India to their highest ever total in the World T20.
Kaur took her time but soon found her range. She smashed as many as seven fours and eight sixes during her 51-ball stay and refreshed memories of her knock against Australia in the semi-final of the 2017 World Cup. Kaur now has the most number of sixes for India in T20 innings, beating her own record of five which came against Sri Lanka in September this year.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma Scored Century in the Final Over
The cricket community took to social media to express their elation on the Indian skipper getting a ton. Here are some of the reactions:
Harmanpreet Kaur , wonderful hundred. Great bat swing in a really zordaar innings pic.twitter.com/lTfG5hsSkD
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 9, 2018
The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma also praised the cricketer and said that it was an unbelievable knock from Harmanpreet.
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
What an innings by @ImHarmanpreet As Captain you want to lead well & in the #WT20 you want to start off well. She has certainly done that!! 103(51) 7×4 8×6!!! pic.twitter.com/IIwuk0Rns1
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) November 9, 2018
Diwali fireworks in Guyana!
8⃣ Sixes
7⃣ Fours103 runs in 51 balls!!🤩@imharmanpreet your rocketing sixes were just amazing.#WWT20 #INDvNZ #WhatAPlayer pic.twitter.com/7gYb85uKnl
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) November 9, 2018
3 from 15 to 103 from 51! 😳@ImHarmanpreet maiden T20 💯 was all class and has set the tone for the #WT20. #HarmanpreetKaur 👊🏽👏🏽💪🏽
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) November 9, 2018
UNSTOPPABLE@ImHarmanpreet #GoGirlsinBlue 💥💫🏆
— Sushma Verma (@ImSushVerma) November 9, 2018
Well done Harmanpreet!! Well played👏👏👏 #WT20
— merissa aguilleira (@mraguilleira) November 9, 2018
Absolute Class!! #WT20 https://t.co/fm4Z5IhoBb
— IamKedar (@JadhavKedar) November 9, 2018
Well played @ImHarmanpreet what an innings 103 in 51 balls #icc woman t20 World Cup# WI
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35) November 9, 2018
Great innings from @ImHarmanpreet. This is what we expect from the @WorldT20.
All the best to @windieswomen for their game against Bangladesh later tonight. #WT20
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) November 9, 2018
A recently-retired (only from the shortest format) hero of Indian cricket, Jhulan Goswami was among the first to rise in appreciation of a sublime display.
A captain's knock from @ImHarmanpreet. First 💯 for India in T20Is & that too at the biggest stage. Well played! 👌 @BCCIWomen @WorldT20 #WT20 pic.twitter.com/XvB0uve32U
— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) November 9, 2018
The affection for that knock wasn’t limited to Indian audiences: the world, fierce rivals included, was watching.
Well played Kaur 👏🏽 Amazing innings and great start to the #WT20 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
— Hayley Matthews (@MyNameIs_Hayley) November 9, 2018
What a magnificent 💯 by @ImHarmanpreet 🔥
#applause 👌#WatchThis— Kainat Imtiaz (@kainatimtiaz16) November 9, 2018
Of course, it doesn’t take long for superhuman efforts to be shrouded by sexist accusations in these parts of the world – but a former men’s cricketer, Aakash Chopra fortunately, was there to bat for the women’s team.
She’s Harmanpreet Kaur of Indian Women’s Team. 😊🙌 https://t.co/v52iKMncfX
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2018
