The 23-year-old Ireland opener Gaby Lewis goes past Stafanie Taylor to become the youngest player to score 2,000 runs in the T20I format.
The Ireland women’s team led by skipper Laura Delany are currently involved in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2024 in Abu Dhabi. They are battling it out for a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, later this year.
The 23-year-old young sensation, Gaby Lewis, has been an inspirational figure for young girls, back home in Ireland. She has managed to achieve a remarkable feat in a game against Vanuatu at the Global Qualifiers.
Youngest Players to score 2,000 T20I runs
Gaby Lewis (Ireland: 23 Years and 35 Days):
The 23-year-old young sensation from Ireland has been one of the prominent contributors with the bat for her side at the top of the order, especially in the T20I format over the years, ever since making her international debut in September 2014.
She has created and broken multiple records through the course of her career so far. She has added another feather into her cap in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier against Vanuatu. She became the youngest player at the age of 23 years and 35 days to enter the 2,000 runs club in the T20I format. She has surpassed the West Indian veteran and former skipper Stafanie Taylor to achieve this feat.
Ireland were facing Vanuatu and Ireland skipper Laura Delany won the toss and opted to field first. The Ireland bowlers Eimear Richardson, skipper Laura Delany, Arlene Kelly and Ava Canning rattled Vanuatu and restricted them to 88/9 in their quota of overs. Chasing the 89-run target, Gaby Lewis completed 2,000 runs in the T20I format en route to her 45-run knock.
Stafanie Taylor (West Indies: 24 Years and 275 Days):
The West Indian veteran had the record for being the youngest player to reach 2,000 runs in the T20I format until the 23-year-old Irish opener Gaby Lewis managed to achieve it in a game against Vanuatu in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024.
The West Indies women’s team were all set to face Pakistan in their first game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2016 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. Pakistan skipper Sana Mir won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, West Indies posted a total of 103/8 in their quota of overs. Skipper Stafanie Taylor (40 off 48 balls) was the top performer with the bat for the West Indies.
West Indies eventually managed to clinch the game by four runs against Pakistan. En route to her 40-run knock she became the youngest player to reach 2,000 runs in the T20I format, during that point of time.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies: 25 Years and 197 Days):
The West Indies were touring Australia for a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series in October last year. The West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, Australia posted a massive total of 190/9 in their quota of overs.
Chasing a target of 191. The West Indies fell short of the target by 47 runs as they were bundled out for just 143 with one ball to spare. Skipper Hayley Matthews was the top performer (79 off 40 balls) with the bat for the West Indies. She was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round performance.
En route to her 79-run knock, the current West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews became the fourth youngest player to achieve the 2,000-run mark in the T20I format.
Smriti Mandhana (India: 25 Years and 337 Days):
The Indian women’s team led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur were visiting Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series in June 2022. The Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to bat first. Sri Lanka posted a total of 125/7 in their quota of overs.
Chasing a target of 126, India eventually clinched the game by five wickets and five balls to spare. The opening batter Smriti Mandhana (39 off 34 balls) was the top performer with the bat for India. En route to her 39-run knock, Smriti Mandhana became the 3rd youngest player to enter the 2,000 runs club.
Meg Lanning (Australia: 26 Years and 3 Days):
The Australian women’s team led by skipper Meg Lanning were involved in a tri-series including India and England, in March 2018. Australia were facing England at the Brabourne Stadium. The Australian skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, England were bundled out for 96 with 14 balls to spare. Alice Davidson-Richards (24 off 24 balls) was the top performer with the bat for Australia.
Chasing a target of 97, Australia cruised to the target and eventually clinched the game by 8 wickets and 51 balls to spare. The duo of Ellyse Perry (47 off 32 balls) and skipper Meg Lanning (41 off 28 balls) took their side over the line with an 85-run 3rd wicket partnership. En route to her 41-run knock, she became the 2nd youngest player to breach the 2,000 runs mark in the T20I format, at that point of time.