Scoring a century in T20 cricket is rare. Doing it in a World Cup, against the best bowling attacks in high-pressure matches, is even tougher. Across the entire history of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, only six centuries have been scored, underlining how difficult it is to dominate on the biggest stage in the shortest format. Each of these innings came in very different situations. Some rescued teams from collapse, others completely overpowered opposition attacks, while a few became defining moments in a player’s career.
1. Deandra Dottin – 112* vs South Africa, 2010
Deandra Dottin’s unbeaten 112 against South Africa in 2010 remains one of the most iconic knocks in Women’s T20 World Cup history. It was the first century in the tournament and also the first-ever hundred in women’s T20 internationals. West Indies were struggling at 52/4 in the 10th over when Dottin walked in and completely changed the game with fearless hitting. She reached her century in just 38 balls, which is still the fastest hundred in women’s T20Is.
Dottin finished unbeaten on 112 from only 45 deliveries, smashing nine sixes and seven fours. Her second fifty came in just 13 balls as South Africa completely lost control of the game. The knock transformed West Indies from a difficult position into match winners and instantly became one of the defining innings in women’s cricket.
2. Meg Lanning – 126 vs Ireland, 2014
Meg Lanning still holds the record for the highest individual score in Women’s T20 World Cup history with her stunning 126 against Ireland in the 2014 edition in Bangladesh. The Australian captain controlled the innings from the very beginning, scoring 126 off 65 balls at a strike rate of 193.84. She brought up her fifty in 33 deliveries before accelerating further to reach her century in only 53 balls.
Lanning’s innings included 18 fours and four sixes as she almost single-handedly carried Australia to 191/4. What stood out most was the way she paced the innings, starting fluently, building steadily, and then completely dominating once set. More than a decade later, it still remains the benchmark for batting performances in the tournament.
3. Harmanpreet Kaur – 103 vs New Zealand, 2018
Harmanpreet Kaur’s century against New Zealand in the opening game of the 2018 tournament was one of the most explosive innings ever played by an Indian batter in a T20 World Cup. India were under pressure at 40/3 inside the powerplay when Harmanpreet came to the crease. She started cautiously, scoring just five runs from her first 13 balls, before completely changing gears.
From there, she smashed 98 runs off her next 38 deliveries and finished with 103 off 51 balls. Her innings included eight sixes and seven fours, with the most destructive phase coming at the death, where she scored 52 runs from 17 balls. The knock became even more impressive considering she battled cramps and back pain during the innings. Harmanpreet’s hundred powered India to 194/5 and set the tone for their run to the semi-final that year.
4. Heather Knight – 108 vs Thailand, 2020
Heather Knight produced one of the calmest and smartest centuries in Women’s T20 World Cup history during England’s 2020 clash against Thailand. England were in trouble almost immediately at 7/2 inside the opening 10 balls when Knight walked in. Instead of panicking, she rebuilt the innings carefully before accelerating later in the innings.
Knight finished unbeaten on 108 from 66 balls and shared a massive unbroken 169-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt. She reached her century in 63 balls and celebrated it with a six over long-on. The innings was significant beyond the tournament as well, making Knight the first woman to score centuries in all three international formats.
5. Lizelle Lee – 101 vs Thailand, 2020
Lizelle Lee’s 101 against Thailand in the 2020 edition was one of the cleanest striking displays seen in the tournament. After South Africa lost Dane van Niekerk early, Lee immediately took control of the innings and attacked almost every bowler Thailand tried. She reached her fifty in 35 balls and eventually brought up her century in 59 deliveries.
Lee finished with 101, with an incredible 88 of those runs coming purely through boundaries. One of the highlights of the innings was a massive 75-metre slog sweep for six off Onnicha Kamchomphu. Her century powered South Africa to 195/3, which at the time was the highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history. She also shared a huge 131-run stand with Sune Luus as South Africa completely dominated the contest.
6. Muneeba Ali – 102 vs Ireland, 2023
The sixth and most recent century in Women’s T20 World Cup history came from Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali during the 2023 edition. Her hundred was historic not just for Pakistan, but for women’s cricket in the country, as she became the first Pakistani woman to score a T20I century. Her century added another memorable chapter to the tournament’s short list of hundreds and highlighted the growing depth and competitiveness in women’s cricket globally.
With only six centuries scored in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, every innings on this list carries special significance. Some came in pressure situations, some in dominant victories, but all of them reshaped matches and created lasting tournament moments. As another Women’s T20 World Cup approaches, these knocks continue to stand as some of the finest batting performances the competition has produced.
All the stats are as of May 7, 2026
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