Sophie Devine's third T20 century for Wellington Blaze is an all-time world record-smasher.
In her first game back for the team this summer, Devine didn't disappoint with a masterclass that saw her smite an unbeaten 108* off just 38 balls.
Her triple figures came up off just 36 pills, and that's faster than any century in the WBBL, and faster than Tim Seifert's men's Dream11 Super Smash record of 40 balls at Bay Oval in 2017/18 between the Knights and Aces.
There have been only 10 faster centuries overall in men's T20 cricket worldwide (including a 35-ball effort by Martin Guptill for Worcestershire) and, to give it some further international context, the women's T20i and former overall T20 women's record is 38 balls, held by West Indian Deandra Dottin since 2010.
After two T20 hundreds last season, it was Devine's second T20 century of the 2020/21 season after her ton for the Perth Scorchers in November's WBBL, across the ditch.
The Otago Sparks will be left ruing a sharp chance to run her out after she had barely got going in her first match since November, with a third umpire adjudication for a runout off a good throw from Emma Black ruled inconclusive, by the tiniest of margins.
The Sparks paid dearly but the cricket world was the winner as Devine came close to smashing her own Blaze record score. In fact, while we're here, take a look at the top all-time T20 scores for the triple defending champions:
1. Sophie Devine, 112 v Northern Spirit, 2019/20
2. Sophie Devine, 108* v Otago Sparks, today
3. Sophie Devine, 106* v Auckland Hearts, 2015/16
4. Sophie Devine, 99* v Northern Spirit, 2010/11
5. Sophie Devine, 87* v Northern Spirit, 2019/20
6. Sophie Devine, 83* v Canterbury 2012/13
Yup. It was also the third highest knock in the history of the women's league, with Sara McGlashan's unbeaten 131* for the Auckland Hearts (2013/14) the only bigger innings than Devine's top two performances for the Blaze.
Hogging the strike, Devine's first 50 runs at Uni Oval had flown off just 21 balls (5x4, 3x6).
By the time she and captain Maddy Green (20* off 15) were done chasing down the Sparks' 128/7 for a 10-wicket win, Devine had hit seven boundaries and nine merciless bombs in all.
The powerful statement sent the defending champs back above the Hearts at the top of the table, while the Sparks were left walking off the field with heads spinning after just 8.4 overs.
No bowler was spared the Devine treatment, all walking in having conceded double figures after the pyrotechnic show.
Earlier, the Blaze bowling unit had done a good job of restricting the Sparks' batting line-up after home captain Katey Martin had elected to bat. WHITE FERN Hayley Jensen top-scored with a 26-ball 35 before she was bowled by Leigh Kasperek, the spinner again on song with a tight 2-20 off her four.
Fellow WHITE FERN Jess Kerr was even leaner with her 2-15, while Melie Kerr picked up 1-22.
Article added: Thursday 14 January 2021
