Harmanpreet Kaur Wins Best Women's Batting Performance of the Year

One of the most devastating T20I knocks of 2018 came from the blades of India women team’s star and T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She slammed a breathtaking ton to fire India to a thumping 34-run win over New Zealand in the World T20.

She walked out to bat when India were in all sorts of trouble. The Women in Blue were reeling at 40 for 3 when their skipper joined youngster Jemimah Rodrigues on the field. Not surprisingly, she was cautious early on, scoring just 5 off the first 13 balls she faced. But once she found her groove, there was no looking back. In the following 20 deliveries, she hit 45 to reach her fifty off 33 balls.

In Rodrigues, Harmanpreet found a perfect partner. The 18-year old scored at a brisk pace to ease the pressure off her skipper. But Harmanpreet soon took charge and blew away New Zealand, peppering the arc between long-on and midwicket with huge sixes, hitting five sixes and two fours. She was particularly severe on Jess Watkin, taking her for 27 off 7 balls.

Rodrigues also went on to complete her fifty and became the youngster Indian to do so in World T20I. But while Rodrigues departed after scoring 59, Harmanpreet went on to score her hundred off just 49 deliveries. She was eventually dismissed in the last over for 103. Her knock contained 8 sixes and 7 fours.

As a result, India ended up scoring 195 for 5, their highest-ever total in World T20.

In reply, New Zealand looked in contention as far as Suzie Bates was batting. But while Bates went on to become the highest run-scorer in World T20, the increasing asking rate finally got the better off her as she returned after scoring 67. India, on the other hand, kept on taking wickets at other end. New Zealand eventually managed to score 160 for 9.

As a result of her blistering knock, Harmanpreet has won the Best Women’s Batting Performance of the Year at the ESPNcricinfo Awards 2018.  The India star pipped the likes of Danielle Wyatt and Chamari Atapattu to the award.

It was the first standalone Women's World T20, and Harmanpreet Kaur made sure it got off to a memorable start

She became the first Indian to hit a T20I century and she wins the best women's batting performance of the yearhttps://t.co/W7scevTHpJ #ESPNcricinfoAwards pic.twitter.com/nUhEqxwszt

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 25, 2019