At just 19 years and 317 days, Ireland’s keeper-batter Amy Hunter has etched her name into record books by becoming the youngest woman in international cricket to score two centuries in T20Is.
The landmark moment came during Ireland’s emphatic victory over Germany in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division One Qualifier at Hazelaarweg, Rotterdam, where Hunter produced a sparkling unbeaten 114 off 67 balls, guiding her side to a thumping 179-run win and securing qualification for the global qualifiers.
Hunter’s knock was nothing short of commanding; 17 boundaries laced her innings, and not once did she relinquish control of the contest. Awarded the Player of the Match, Hunter not only carried the Irish innings (223/1) on her shoulders but also showcased her ability to rise to big occasions, a trait that is becoming synonymous with her young yet impactful career.
Hunter’s T20I career, which began with her debut against Scotland in Belfast on 24th May 2021, has been on an upward trajectory. In just 51 innings, she has accumulated 1,314 runs at an average of 30.51 and a strike rate of 114.08, proving to be one of Ireland’s most consistent top-order contributors.
Her first breakthrough century came against Zimbabwe on 26th January 2024 in Harare, when she struck an unbeaten 101 off 66 balls, decorated with 13 fours and a six. That innings not only sealed a comfortable win for Ireland but also earned Hunter a Player of the Match award, establishing her reputation as a match-winner.
Now, just over 18 months later, her Rotterdam innings against Germany has taken her to another level, placing her in an elite group of players with multiple T20I hundreds, a list that remains exclusive in women’s cricket. More importantly, she has done so before the age of 20, underlining her prodigious talent.
This latest century was more than a personal milestone; it was pivotal to Ireland’s campaign. The 179-run victory not only reflected Ireland’s dominance but also ensured their progression to the global qualifiers, keeping alive their hopes of making it to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales. Hunter’s consistency at the top continues to provide Ireland with a strong platform, and her ability to anchor while accelerating has addressed one of the long-standing concerns in their batting setup.
What stands out about Amy Hunter is her temperament. At an age where most players are only beginning to find their footing in international cricket, Hunter has already chalked out a series of defining innings. Her record of two centuries and four half-centuries in just over four years of her T20I career is a testament to her adaptability across conditions and opponents.
With her latest milestone, Hunter has firmly positioned herself as the face of the new generation of Irish women’s cricket. Her achievements are not just personal triumphs but markers of progress for women’s cricket in Ireland, inspiring a new wave of players who look up to her journey.
As Ireland steps closer to another world event, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain fixed on Amy Hunter. For a teenager to carry not just the weight of numbers but also the hope of a nation speaks volumes about her maturity. Her twin hundreds have come at crucial times, reinforcing that she is not just a statistic accumulator but a genuine match-winner.
With over 1,300 runs already under her belt before her 20th birthday, the ceiling for Hunter seems sky-high. If her current trajectory continues, Ireland may well have unearthed one of their greatest batting talents, a player capable of changing the landscape of women’s cricket in the country.
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