The New Zealand WHITE FERNS have made a spectacular record start to their three-match Twenty20 International Series at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, after stand-in captain Sophie Devine powered to the fastest Twenty20 International half-century in the history of women's cricket.
Sophie Devine en route to a world record. Photos copyright Photosport.nz
Devine, who was deputising for regular captain Suzie Bates (out with a stomach bug), smashed her half-century off 18 balls en route to a career-best 22-ball 70, at a strike rate of 318.18. It was Devine's second Twenty20 International half-century and broke West Indian Deandra Dottin's fastest Twenty20 International 50 world record, which had stood at 22 balls, set in 2009.
Having got off the mark by smashing Jhulan Goswami for six over point, Devine's 89-run second-wicket stand with Amy Satterthwaite (who herself had got off to a flier, and finished on an unbeaten 39, off 35 balls) was completed in just 4.4 overs, before Devine was caught off left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad on the third ball of the sixth over by a stunned Sneh Rana — whose own one-over stint had been brutalised by Devine to the tune of 32 runs.
Amy Satterthwaite had the other end secure
Having dismissed India for 125 with one ball to spare, the destructive hitting ensured the WHITE FERNS cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket victory with 45 balls to spare, Devine having blasted five boundaries and eight sixes — bettered in the women's Twenty20 International records only by Dottin, who has struck nine sixes in a T20i innings.
Earlier, Kate Broadmore and Twenty20 International debutante Leigh Kasperek (2-18) had put the brakes on India after captain and opener Mithali Raj had got off to a flier after being sent in, Raj scorching to 30 off 14 balls before she was run out on 35 in the ninth over by the WHITE FERNS' other Twenty20 International debutante today, Natalie Dodd.
India never recovered from the breakthrough, wickets dropping like dominoes.
Broadmore picked up 3-16 off her set of four, including 15 dots, and spinner Morna Nielsen wrapped up the innings with 3-30 off 3.9 overs.
