In a landmark moment for New Zealand women’s cricket, 25-year-old all-rounder and skipper Amelia Kerr smashed her way to 1,500 T20I runs with a breathtaking unbeaten century (101* off 51 balls) in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on February 25, 2026.
Entering at number 3 with 47 runs still needed for the milestone, Kerr’s explosive knock, featuring 19 boundaries, powered the White Ferns to their highest home T20I total of 202/1 in 20 overs after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe captain Nomvelo Sibanda. The hosts cruised to a 92-run win, taking a 1-0 lead in this historic three-match T20I series, the first bilateral white-ball assignment against Zimbabwe at home (February 25 to March 11).
Amelia Kerr’s masterclass wasn’t just about the bat. The Player of the Match also delivered a miserly spell of 4-0-14-2, underlining her all-round prowess in this groundbreaking series opener. Becoming only the second White Ferns T20I skipper after Sophie Devine to score a century at home, Kerr etched her name further by claiming the fastest T20I hundred by a New Zealand captain, off just 51 balls.
Since her T20I debut against Pakistan at Nelson on November 21, 2016, following her ODI bow two weeks earlier at Lincoln, Kerr has transformed into a cornerstone of the White Ferns. In 89 matches and 71 innings, she has amassed 1,554 runs at an average of 29.88 and a strike rate of 113.01, including five half-centuries and now this maiden T20I ton, her career-best batting performance for the side.
This Zimbabwe series marks uncharted territory, with the visitors, led by Josephine Nkomo, facing a full white-ball schedule (three T20Is followed by three ODIs) on New Zealand soil for the first time. Kerr, already a proven leader, has ignited the campaign with fireworks, blending aggressive strokeplay and tactical nous to set the tone.
As the White Ferns chase series glory, their skipper’s milestone underscores the beginning of a golden era for women’s cricket in the country, one where all-round brilliance continues to redefine limits.
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