Twitter Reactions: Harmanpreet Kaur decimates New Zealand to a 49-ball century

She scored merely five runs off her first 13 deliveries.

Published - 09 Nov 2018, 22:34 IST | Updated - 09 Nov 2018, 22:34 IST

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The first standalone Women’s World T20 in the West Indies got off to a glorious start with the match between India and New Zealand at Providence Stadium in Guyana. And it was the Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who hogged all the limelight with her century off 49 deliveries. The knock also helped her team post a colossal score of 194 for the loss of five wickets.

After winning the toss, India didn’t have any hesitation to bat first. However, they lost both the opening batswomen- Tania Bhatia and Smriti Mandhana- to fast bowler Lea Tahuhu inside the fielding restrictions. Dayalan Hemalatha scorched a couple of boundaries but fell prey to right-arm off-spinner Leigh Kasperk. The onus was thereafter on skipper Harmanpreet.

Kaur takes the White Ferns apart

She came in with the score at 40/3 in 5.4 overs. The 29-year-old didn’t blaze away and put her head down to gauge the conditions. She scored merely five runs off her first 13 deliveries after which she went berserk and notched the next 95 runs in just 36 balls. Kaur had teenage sensation Jemimah Rodrigues at the other end, who also contributed with a breezy 59 runs from 45 balls.

Harmanpreet brought up her ton in the last over off 49 balls. She eventually scored 103 runs from 51 balls with the help of seven boundaries and eight colossal hits over the ropes. Pacer Sophie Devine got rid of her in the last over, caught by wicketkeeper Katey Martin, but by then the swashbuckling batter from Punjab had already done a significant amount of damage.

The seasoned campaigner also became Indian women’s maiden T20I centurion while becoming the third batswoman after Windies’ Deandra Dottin and Australia’s Meg Lanning to amass a century in the Women’s World T20 ever since the event’s inception in 2009. In the meantime, Twitter heaped praises on the Indian captain for the batting masterclass.

Here is how Twitter reacted

Absolute Class!! #WT20 https://t.co/fm4Z5IhoBb
— IamKedar (@JadhavKedar) November 9, 2018

The India bench applaud a fantastic century from captain @ImHarmanpreet! 👏 👏 👏#NZvIND #WT20 pic.twitter.com/E0ee6ZvcQ8
— ICC World Twenty20 (@WorldT20) November 9, 2018

Harmanpreet has lit the stage. WT20 is afire
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 9, 2018

Congratulations on ur first t20 hundred for India chak te phatee Kudiye very well played @ImHarmanpreet @BCCIWomen #WWT20 #IndvsNz 👏👏👏🇮🇳⭐️😊
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) 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

What an innings from @ImHarmanpreet #WATCHTHIS
— Charlotte Edwards (@C_Edwards23) November 9, 2018

Take a bow Harmanpreet Kaur!👌👍👏 103 in 51 balls!
India women's 194-5 (20 of) is now the highest ever total in women's #WT20
Prev: 191-4 (20 overs) by Australia v Ireland at Sylhet 2014
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 9, 2018

That Harmanpreet Kaur batswing is a thing of joy.#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/MaLaPDh656
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) November 9, 2018

Maiden T20I 💯 for Harmanpreet Kaur – first by an Indian
Runs: 101
Balls: 49
Fours: 7
Sixes: 8#NZvIND #WT20 pic.twitter.com/86QUBDfJyk
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 9, 2018

Interesting to see that Harmanpreet Kaur is standing outside her crease while playing a spinner….never seen that before. #INDWvNZW #WWT20
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2018

Maiden T20I 💯 for Harmanpreet Kaur – first by an Indian
Take a bow Champion 🔥
Runs: 101
Balls: 49
Fours: 7
Sixes: 8#NZvIND #WT20 pic.twitter.com/AXe532r6kM
— zεяσ ση 21sτ ∂εςεмbεя♔ (@imsavan08) November 9, 2018

Rohit sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur .. If they stay , they take the game all awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy from the opponent #INDvNZ #NZvInd #WT20
— Moumita🇮🇳 (@i_m_mou) November 9, 2018