World T20: Harmanpreet scripts several records en route her ton
What's the story
Indian eves cricket skipper Harmanpreet Kaur lit up the ICC Women's World T20 2018 on the opening day itself, after becoming the the first from the nation to score a T20I century.
The 29-year-old middle order batswoman smashed a scintillating 103 in Providence Stadium, Guyana.
Her century helped India seal the match against New Zealand by an emphatic 34 runs.
Let's decode her performance.
Importance
Harmanpreet the focal point of this Indian side
As we analyzed yesterday, despite all the focus on Smriti, one cannot rule out the importance of Harman.
And the player showed why she is the focal point of this Indian side.
On a record-breaking day, Kaur was excellent to get the side going despite coming in at number 5.
Her 134-run stand with Jemima Rodriguez got India back on track.
Records
Many of firsts for Harmanpreet and India
Kaur became the first Indian captain to win the Player of the Match award in the World T20.
Her blitz saw India (men/women) beat New Zealand for the first time ever in a World T20 event.
Harmanpreet's whirlwind innings saw India amass 70 runs off the 30 deliveries of the innings.
India's total of 194/5 is the highest in Women's WT20I match.
Stats
T20Is: Kaur only the third captain to strike a ton
Kaur, who hit a stunning 8 sixes, now has the joint second highest sixes notched in a women's T20I international.
West Indian woman Dottin has the record for the most sixes hit in a match (9).
Kaur became the third captain to strike a ton in women's T20Is.
The enigmatic batswoman also became the third player to score a century in a World T20.
Superb
Kaur scripts amazing records
Harmanpreet's 134-run stand with Rodrigues is now the highest stand for India in the Women World T20.
Kaur is also the the highest individual scorer for India in a T20I match.
She broke her own record of 77, which was achieved against Bangladesh at Sylhet in 2014.
Interestingly, Kaur also became the first Indian skipper to hit a six in Women's World T20.
Bates
Bates the lone star for Kiwis
Indian eves bowlers Hemalatha (3/26) and strike spinner Poonam Yadav (3/33) were exceptional in getting the Kiwi women into trouble.
New Zealand managed 160/9 in their innings.
For the Kiwis, Suzie Bates, who scored a 50-ball 67, became the highest run-getter in Women's World T20.
The talented opening batsman went past Charlotte Edward's tally of 768 runs.
She was the lone batting star.