On May 5, 2010, in St Kitts, a T20 match that began quietly turned into one of the most explosive displays the game has ever seen. Sixteen years later, Deandra Dottin’s 38-ball century remains the fastest in Women’s T20 Internationals; a record that still stands untouched and unmatched.
It was the first match of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20, where West Indies took on South Africa. Early on, there was little indication of what was to come. West Indies struggled to build momentum, losing wickets and failing to accelerate through the first half of the innings. The scoring was steady but far from threatening, and South Africa looked firmly in control. Then Dottin arrived at the crease and everything changed.
She began positively, finding the boundary early and showing intent from the outset. Her fifty came quickly off just 26 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes. It was a sharp acceleration, but what followed was even more remarkable. Instead of consolidating, Dottin pushed further, shifting gears in a way rarely seen at the time.
From the moment she crossed fifty, the innings took on a completely different dimension. Boundaries began to flow more freely, and the sixes came with increasing frequency. South Africa’s bowlers struggled to respond, trying variations in pace and length, but nothing seemed to disrupt her rhythm. The field spread wider, yet Dottin kept clearing it with ease.
Her century came in just 38 balls — an extraordinary milestone built on fearless, controlled aggression. By the time she got there, she had already struck five fours and nine sixes, showcasing the dominance of her hitting. It wasn’t just power, but precision she picked her moments and executed with clarity.
The progression of the innings tells its own story. West Indies reached 50 in 8.2 overs, but once Dottin found her range, the scoring rate soared. The team crossed 100 in 14.2 overs and eventually surged to 159 by 18.3 overs, driven largely by her onslaught, which included 10 fours and 10 sixes in that phase of acceleration. By the end, she remained unbeaten on 112 off 45 balls, with a staggering strike rate of 248.88.
From a modest position, West Indies finished on 175 for 5, a total that had seemed unlikely earlier in the innings. The transformation was almost entirely down to one player’s brilliance.
South Africa’s chase was competitive but always under pressure. The target, combined with the impact of Dottin’s innings, proved difficult to overcome. They managed to keep the scoreboard moving, but West Indies held firm at key moments to secure a 17-run victory. Dottin also contributed with the ball, taking 1 for 20, capping off a memorable all-round performance.
What makes this innings even more special is its context. In 2010, such power-hitting was rare in the women’s game. Dottin’s knock felt ahead of its time, a glimpse of where the format would eventually go. Even now, despite the rise of aggressive batting, no one has truly come close. Alyssa Healy’s 46-ball century and Tammy Beaumont’s 47-ball hundred remain the nearest efforts, but still well behind. Sixteen years on, that innings still remains a benchmark!
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