It was raining sixes in Bengaluru as Chinelle Henry unleashed a batting masterclass, scoring 62 runs in just 23 balls, with 2 fours and 8 sixes, in the 8th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz.
Henry walked in to bat when her team was struggling at 89-6, but she single handedly took UP to a fighting total of 177. Her explosive batting pulled the game around for UP, breaking a plethora of records in the process.
She equalled the record for the joint-fastest fifty in WPL history, reaching the milestone in just 18 balls, alongside Sophia Dunkley. Her strike rate of 269.57 is the third highest in a WPL innings (min. 50+ runs).
The West-Indian all-rounder’s knock was also the fastest T20 fifty recorded by a West-Indian woman. Her 62 runs are the highest score batting at number 8 or lower in Women’s T20s. UP Warriorz scored 67 runs in the last four overs, courtesy of Chinelle’s onslaught, which is the second highest for any team in WPL.
In the previous match against Delhi, on debut, she had scored an unbeaten 33 off 15 balls and she carried the form into this match. However, her innings wasn’t without a slice of luck. She was dropped on 13 by Marizanne Kapp, but she made the most of that reprieve.
While her entire knock was a treat to watch, the 17th and 19th overs were particularly special as she took the bowling by storm. In the 17th over, Henry smashed Shikha Pandey for a four off a no-ball, followed by two consecutive sixes.
In the 19th over, she pulled Arundhati Reddy for three sixes. The first was a powerful thrash over deep midwicket off a full toss. The second was an incredible adjustment, sending a pace-off delivery over square leg. The third was a pulled six over deep square leg, showcasing her immense strength.
She made a 57-run partnership with Sophie Ecclestone, which came off just 22 balls. As she reached her 50, she celebrated with gusto, signalling the Warriorz dugout to rise to their feet and cheer on her.
It was a moment of triumph for Chinelle, who had come into the tournament as an injury replacement for Alyssa Healy but proved herself to be more than just a replacement. She finally fell on the last ball of the innings, caught by Jemimah Rodrigues at deep mid-wicket, but not before she had taken the Warriorz to a respectable total.
As the dust settled on Henry’s incredible innings, fans were left stunned, applauding her heroics. Fans praised her breathtaking power, skill, and determination, with many hailing it as the knock of the WPL so far. Her impressive strike rate, particularly in the WPL, only added to the awe-inspiring nature of her performance.
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