The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is nearing its end. The competition has already found its four semi-finalists. Australia, South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand. The Aussies will be facing South Africa in the 1st semi-final on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium. The Kiwis who have been the dark horse in the competition will be hosting the West Indies at Sharjah Stadium on Friday. The tournament has been an exhilarating event.
It has been filled with thrilling performances and record-breaking moments. The rise of global interest, increased competition, and a greater pool of talented players have seen the competition getting bigger and better this year. The underdogs performed well causing problems for the favourites in the group-stage games. Cricket, particularly the T20 format, has changed quickly, with players adjusting to its fast-paced and dynamic nature.
With this evolution, new standards are established each season. The Women’s T20 World Cup is no exception. This year also saw some breathtaking run chases and some low-scoring games as well. There are several milestones and records to watch for, from individual batting feats to team achievements. We will be taking a look at the importance of records and milestones in any sport featuring cricket.
Impact of Records and Milestones on Women’s Cricket’Legacy
In any sport, milestones and records are important because they showcase the quality, advancement, and progression within the game. These milestones serve as a point of reference for future generations of cricketers. They inspire them to go above and beyond. For fans, they add layers of excitement and drama to each game. Records are more than just numbers. They represent the sport’s history. When a player achieves a major milestone, such as scoring the most runs.
Taking the most wickets, or achieving the fastest century, not only enhances their legacy but also has an impact on the sport by setting new benchmarks. These accomplishments frequently become talking points, fueling rivalries, fan excitement, and drama during important competitions such as the T20 World Cup. Breaking records in women’s cricket, which has undergone remarkable changes in recent decades. This also demonstrates the game’s growing standards.
The Women’s T20 World Cup provides athletes with the potential to make history by excelling on the international stage. The growth of women’s cricket has resulted in a more competitive environment in which upsets are no longer uncommon, but rather a reflection of the game’s expanding global excellence. Let’s look at some specific records and milestones that might have been achieved in 2024.
Batting records: Chasing Boundaries in Women’s T20 World Cup
In T20 cricket it has been more of batters than the bowlers. It has always been the cornerstone of the game. The players consistently strive to outdo themselves and entertain the crowds. In the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, several players might have achieved some major milestones in runs, sixes, and centuries. Let’s take a look at some of the records that have been achieved by the batters in the 2024 edition.
Most Runs:
Tazmin Brits of South Africa is currently the highest run-scorer in the tournament so far. She has scored 155 runs with an average of 51.66. Brits have been at her absolute best for the Proteas. The opener will look to firepower against a quality bowling lineup of Australia in the semi-final. To qualify for the final of the tournament. This is her second T20 World Cup she would like to win their first World Cup after losing last year.
Overall in the T20 World Cup history, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is the top run scorer in tournament history with 1158 runs. She has been participating since the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2009. She has scored 8 fifties in the tournament history so far, which is the most by any batter. This year she has not been in her best of form and might be featuring for the last time.
Except for this, some batters are edging to some milestones. Beth Mooney has 2,958 runs in 99 T20I innings and is just 42 runs shy from joining Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy in Australia’s coveted 3,000 Women’s T20I runs club. Ellyse Perry is only 57 runs away from scoring 7,000 runs in international cricket.
Most Sixes:
Deandra Dottin has hit the most sixes in the tournament so far. The West Indies batter was the first woman to score a century in T20Is during a World T20 match against South Africa in 2010. She has scored 87 runs in the tournament so far in four matches, it has been a concern for the Windies batter. However, her six-hitting prowess will once again be visible on Friday against the Kiwis.
She is also the batter with the most sixes in the history of the tournament. Since the inception of the tournament in 2009 till now she has hit 28 sixes. The records will keep on adding as she prepares something big for the upcoming semi-final. She has scored 737 runs in addition to those sixes which showcase her batting prowess.
Most Centuries:
This year of the World Cup has not seen centuries so far. However, with two big matches left some power hitter will be taking the field. The fans can expect someone to turn up big for their nations in the semi-finals and score centuries. Overall this edition has seen the highest score of 62 runs with England’s Maia Bouchier scoring against Scotland.
Overall six batters have scored one century in the Women’s T20 World Cup history. Deandra Dottin tops the list following Australia’s Meg Lanning, Harmanpreet Kaur, Heather Knight, Lizelle Lee, and Muneeba Ali these are the batters who have hit one century each. Dottin has the chance to surpass all of them on Friday if she scores her second Women’s T20 World Cup century.
Bowling Records: Dominance of Bowlers in Women’s T20 World Cup
Bowlers have not enjoyed a good time in the shortest format of the game. Despite being more important, especially in the shorter format. It is needed to control the run rate and taking wickets at key moments can win matches. However, bowlers are the key to success for any team than the batters. In low-scoring games, it is always the bowlers who need to step up big for the side.
Most Wickets:
Amelia Kerr of New Zealand is leading the wicket-taking chart of this edition. She has picked 10 wickets so far in the major tournament with a sensational economy of 4.90 and an average of 7.20. She is the main reason why the Kiwis qualified from the group stages beating India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. She would like to add to her tally and finish the list as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Megan Schutt of Australia is the all-time highest wicket-taker of the tournament. She has been part of the team since 2016. Schutt has been one of the most experienced campaigners in the team and the competition as well. She has picked 48 wickets so far in the major event. This year also she lists in the top 3 wicket takers list by scalping 8 wickets so far. She is also 5 wickets away from picking up 150 wickets in T20I cricket and 2 away from 50 T20 World Cup wickets.
Best Economy Rate:
Megan Schutt has the best economy in this edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. She has an amazing economy of 3.27. The Aussie bowler has 8 wickets to her name and has been clinical with his line and lengths. She has bowled the joint most maidens in this edition of the tournament. Schutt will be looking to build up something different in the semi-final of the World Cup.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone has the best economy among the players who have played more than 10 matches in the history of the tournament. The slow left-arm bowler has 4.37 economy and has picked 29 wickets in the history of the competition being at the top 10 list of the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history.
Most five-wicket hauls:
This year there has been no five wicket-haul for the bowlers. The best bowling figures is 4/17 by West Indies’s Karishma Ramharack. The off-break bowler achieved the milestone in the game against Bangladesh where the opponents did not have any answer to her bowling as they scored 103/8.
Like the batters with the most centuries, the bowlers’ list is also the same as 6 bowlers are tied with the most five-wicket hauls in the Women’s T20 World Cup. All of them had done it once Priyanka Roy, Renuka Singh, Deandra Dottin, Julie Hunter, Ashleigh Gardner, and Sune Luus. All these bowlers are tied with Dottin and Ashleigh Gardner has the chance of breaking the barriers.
Team Performances:
Highest Total:
This year the highest total in the Women’s T20 World Cup has been 172/3. India Women scored posted the runs against Sri Lanka Women in the group stage game. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana both scored centuries respectively. With three more matches left in the competition, the record can be broken.
Overall the highest total has been 213/5. England Women scored this total back in the previous edition of the competition against Pakistan Women. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the aggressor of the innings as she scored 81 off 40 deliveries. This remains the highest team total in the tournament’s history.
Lowest Total:
In the 2024 edition, Pakistan ranks with the lowest-ever total in the tournament. Fatima Sana’s side got the unwanted record in the final group game against New Zealand. They were bowled out for just a mere 56 runs while chasing a target of 111 runs. This is also the second-lowest total in the tournament’s history.
The overall lowest total remains with Bangladesh as they were bowled out for just 46 runs while chasing a target of 107 runs against West Indies. This incident happened in the West Indies back in 2018. It remains the lowest-ever total by any team in the competition history.
A Tournament of Milestones
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will not only crown a winner. It also tested the limits of cricket’s potential. The records and milestones made throughout the competition will become part of the sport’s rich history, immortalising the players and teams who break new ground.
These milestones will offer players the chance to leave a lasting legacy, while fans revel in witnessing history being made. As women’s cricket gains popularity, these records will motivate future generations of players to strive for excellence, ensuring that the game evolves and reaches new heights.
