Amelia Kerr has etched her name alongside two legends of New Zealand cricket, becoming only the third White Fern to score a T20I century. In a clinical display of power and timing, she led her side to a massive victory against Zimbabwe, making the bowling attack look quite ordinary in the process.
New Zealand’s T20I history has been dominated by some of the game’s greatest, but triple-figure scorers remain a rare and prestigious feat. By reaching this milestone, Amelia Kerr joins an exclusive club that includes Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine.
The three represent the backbone of the White Ferns’ batting legacy—Bates with her veteran composure, Devine with her raw power, and now Kerr, who has evolved into one of the most complete all-rounders in the world. Against Zimbabwe, Kerr didn’t just score runs; she dictated the terms of the game, finding gaps with surgical precision and hitting 19 boundaries to reach her ton in just 51 balls.
Before Kerr’s heroics, the record books were held by the old guard. Suzie Bates was the first to break the barrier back in June 2018. Playing against South Africa in Taunton, she smashed a brilliant 124* off 66 balls, a knock that solidified her status as the format’s leading run-scorer at the time.
Two years later, in February 2020, it was Sophie Devine’s turn to shine. Also facing South Africa, but this time on home soil at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Devine hammered 105 runs. It was a historic day where she became the first cricketer (male or female) to score five consecutive 50+ scores in T20Is. Both Bates and Devine set the bar incredibly high, and it has taken six years for another New Zealander to join them in the triple-digit club.
Amelia Kerr’s performance at Seddon Park was nothing short of a masterclass. Stepping out as captain, she took full control from the moment she arrived at the crease. While Zimbabwe tried to vary their pace and lengths, Kerr seemed to have an answer for everything. She reached her half-century in just 29 balls, signaling early on that she wasn’t interested in just rotating the strike.
Her innings was defined by intent. She was particularly dominant through the off-side, but it was her ability to go straight that really broke the spirit of the Zimbabwean bowlers. Alongside Isabella Gaze, Kerr anchored a massive 150-run partnership, effectively batting the visitors out of the game.
By the time she reached her 101* off 51 deliveries, she had struck 19 fours and maintained a strike rate of over 198. It wasn’t just a captain’s knock; it was a statement of intent for the series. She played the field like a chessboard, and by the end, Zimbabwe’s bowlers looked completely out of ideas.
Amelia Kerr has always been a special talent, but this century feels like a coming-of-age moment in the T20I format. Joining Bates and Devine in the history books is a fitting reward for a player who continues to carry the torch for New Zealand cricket. With her at the helm and in this kind of form, the White Ferns look like a formidable force heading into the rest of the summer.
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