New Zealand Women Captain Sophie Devine Creates History In Overall T20I Cricket

On Monday (10th February), New Zealand women’s captain Sophie Devine created history in overall T20I cricket. She became the first batter in overall T20I history (both men’s and women’s) to register five consecutive 50+ scores.

It was the fourth game of the five-match T20I series between the hosts New Zealand Women and South Africa Women at Wellington. After winning the toss, the hosts decided to bat first where Sophie Devine hit a century.

Sophie Devine scored 105 runs, and it was her fifth consecutive 50+ score in T20I career

Opener Sophie Devine played impressively in that entire first innings. After her opening partner, Lauren Down was dismissed on 11 runs, Devine and Suzie Bates put the 142 runs partnership for the second wicket. On the fifth ball of the final over of that innings, Devine was run out but after scoring 105 runs off 65 balls (12 fours and 3 sixes). After Suzie Bates (scored once 124* against South Africa Women), Devine became the second New Zealand Women’s cricketer to hit a T20I century.

While Bates remained not out on 47 runs off 46 balls, the hosts scored 171/2 (20 overs). In reply, South Africa Women were bundled out for just 102 runs (17 overs) as the hosts won by 69 runs.

In her last five T20I innings, Sophie Devine scored 72, 54*, 61, 77 and 105 runs. Out of those, her last four innings were in the ongoing home series. After her latest century, Sophie Devine became the first cricketer to register five successive 50+ scores in overall T20I (including men’s and women’s cricket) history.

Before her, three players managed to register four consecutive 50+ scores in T20I career. From the women cricketers, Indian women’s cricketer Mithali Raj hit four straight T20I half-centuries between 2016 and 2018.

Among the men’s cricketers, Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and Chris Gayle (West Indies) achieved this feat once each. But none of them managed to stretch like Devine.

Players who registered more than three 50+ scores in T20I career (both men’s and women’s)