Maharashtra women’s team staged a commanding all-around display to overpower Punjab in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite as Kiran Navgire took center stage hitting the record-fastest century in Women’s T20 cricket.
Batting first, Punjab managed to post a competitive but below-par total of 110 for 6 in their full quota of 20 overs. The innings lacked momentum from the start, as Maharashtra’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding restricted boundaries.
Ridhima Aggarwal struggled to get going, scoring 5 off 14 balls before falling to D A Patil. Prashasti Sharma provided a brief spark with 9 runs from 8 balls, including two quick hits to the fence, while Srishti Rajput contributed 16 off 33 deliveries, trying to anchor the innings amid falling wickets.
Punjab’s middle order found it tough to build meaningful partnerships. Pragati Singh made 18 from 21 balls, but the run rate continued to stagnate under Maharashtra’s tight bowling. Neetu Singh’s short cameo of 11 from 8 balls momentarily lifted hopes, while Priya Kumari remained unbeaten with a valuable 30 off 23 deliveries—her aggressive hitting includes four boundaries, and one six helping Punjab cross the 100-run mark.
Akshita Bhagat also chipped in with 16 not out, taking the total to 110 at the end of 20 overs. Maharashtra’s bowlers were disciplined, with B M Mirajkar and A A Patil taking 2 wickets each, supported by economical spells from the rest.
Chasing 111, Maharashtra turned the match into a spectacle, thanks to an extraordinary display of power hitting by Kiran Navgire. The 31-year-old batter showcased controlled aggression and fearless intent, racing to an unbeaten 106 off just 35 balls, bringing up her century in only 34 balls. Her innings, laced with 14 boundaries and 7 sixes, came at a staggering strike rate of 302.86, making it the fastest century ever recorded in women’s T20 cricket. This is also the first-ever instance of a player scoring a century at a strike rate of over 300.
Navgire’s assault began right from the first over and never relented, dismantling Punjab’s bowling attack with sheer force and precision. Navgire surpassed Sophie Devine’s record, who had smashed a 36-ball century for Wellington Blaze in 2021. Notably, the fastest century in Women’s T20 Internationals had come off 38 balls, courtesy to Deandra Dottin, enroute to her 112 off 45 balls against South Africa.
None of Punjab’s bowlers were spared. Komalpreet Kour and Mamta Rani went for over 8 runs per over, while Mannat Kashyap was hit for 13 in her only over. The most expensive spells came from Akshita Bhagat and Priya Kumari, who conceded 24 and 30 runs respectively in their single overs. Maharashtra chased 113 for 1 in just 8 overs, sealing victory with 12 overs to spare.
With this knock, Navgire has not only strengthened her batting style but also set a new benchmark for batting brilliance in domestic cricket. She raised the bar on batting excellence in domestic cricket. This game will always be remembered as the night Kiran Navgire wrote history, rewriting speed and force in women’s T20 cricket with an innings that will be remembered for years to come.
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